Violen­ce in area has become rarer since securi­ty forces largel­y flushe­d out gunmen in 2017 campai­gnDUBAI: Six people were killed and one arrested in a security operation in Saudi Arabia’s eastern Al-Qatif region on Monday, the state news agency reported on Wednesday. Violence in the area has become rarer since security forces largely flushed out gunmen in a 2017 campaign that left much of the town’s old quarter flattened. Restrictions and reforms: Saudi Arabia’s treatment of womenQatif, in an oil-producing province and home to a large Shia Muslim population, is a flashpoint between the Sunni-dominated government and Shia Muslim minority complaining of discrimination and marginalisation. Saudi authorities deny those charges. Protests and deadly militant attacks on security forces have escalated since Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia Muslim cleric critical of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family, was executed two years ago on charges of inciting violence.

Source: The Express Tribune January 09, 2019 16:18 UTC