Saudi regime continues brutal siege against Shia minority
By
Jean Shaoul
9 August 2017
At least 12 people are feared dead in the escalating government offensive against Awamiya, the Shia city in Saudi Arabia’s governorate of Qatif in the Eastern Province, amid the destruction of whole districts of the city. It brings the total killed in the months-long siege to 24.
While the security forces claim to be fighting gunmen in the city, activists on social media accuse them of driving local people from their homes by firing indiscriminately into residential areas and making life unbearable.
Tensions grew after reports that the government had given consent to the Albrahim property development corporation to demolish and regenerate Almosara, which it claims is being used by armed gunmen, and the district of al-Shweikah, 6 kilometres south of Almosara.
Houses and shops have been destroyed in the fighting, electricity has been turned off, and water, garbage collection and other essential services shut down. According to the web site Middle East Eye, hundreds of people have been evacuated or forcibly evicted from their homes. While the government claims that the residents whose homes have been demolished will be rehoused in the city of Damman, most of those made homeless have yet to be rehoused.
According to the newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, out of a list of 23 wanted “terrorists” in the city, 10 had handed themselves in, several had already been killed and three were still at large.
Videos and photos from Saudi activists indicate that the monarchy has deployed armoured vehicles against the population. The Canadian government, which recently concluded a $15 billion arms deal with Riyadh, has raised “concerns” about the use of the Canadian-made vehicles.
The Shia minority in…