Saudi Arabian security forces have flattened a Shia town in the Kingdom’s eastern province following a three month military campaign that, Riyadh claims, has targeted gunmen.
Journalists escorted by military officials have described streets in Awamiyah’s old quarter as transformed into a war zone. Residential buildings have been bulldozed to the ground while others were pocked with hundreds of bullet holes. Residents have fled to nearby villages in their thousands while nine civilians have been killed in the past week alone. The dead include a five-year-old boy. He was shot in the abdomen two months ago and has now succumbed to his wounds. Since 20-11, Awamiyah has been the epicenter of a protest movement against discrimination toward the Kingdom’s Shia Muslim minority. Riyadh claims gunmen used Awamiyah’s narrow alleyways to target security forces. Locals say authorities had been hunting down activists in the area.
Comments
Post a Comment