‘Saudis will continue protest rallies’

A Saudi Arabian cleric says that protesters will continue their demonstrations in the country until the government fulfills their demands.

Cleric Nemr al-Nemr told demonstrators not to be afraid of the regime’s military and fight for their dignity.

“Our dignity is worth more than our blood and we do not afraid of death. They may have thousands of tanks, troops, helicopters… it is not important. We should fight for our dignity,” he said on Saturday.

The city of Qatif in the Eastern Province has been the scene of anti-government protests over the past months with demonstrators demanding the release of thousands of political prisoners as well as freedom and equality.

There are more than 30,000 political prisoners, mostly prisoner of conscience, in jails across the country, according to Saudi activists.

Activists say most of the detained political activists are being held by the government without trial or charges.

In March, the Saudi Interior Ministry called all public gatherings “illegal,” authorizing regime forces “to take all measures needed” against the people who defied the ban.