Two Shiite bloggers were detained by authorities in Saudi Arabia last week, reportedly for taking part in the demonstrations in the repressive regime’s oil-rich Eastern Province. The kingdom’s Sunni royal family is notorious for barring any form of public dissent against its governance. But the Shiites in the restive Eastern Province, who have long squirmed under the thumb of the House of Saud, recently launched a series of small demonstrations. According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi authorities have arrested more than 160 activists in the past few months.
- Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the Middle East protests.
- See photos of protests in the Middle East.
- See a slide show of 15 post-Cold War uprisings.
Reader Comments