Man in Saudi Arabia self-immolates to protest social injustice

Saudi protesters hold an anti-regime demonstration in the Qatif region of Eastern Province. (File photo)

Mon Dec 24, 2012 6:28PM GMT

A man has reportedly set himself on fire in Saudi Arabia to express discontent over social and economic injustices in the country.

Saudi media said on Monday that the man set himself alight because he was unhappy with the way he was treated at workplace. He was fired without a formal or legal warrant.

There have been several acts of self-immolation across Arab countries since the suicide of a man in Tunisia, which provoked an anti-regime uprising.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government.”

Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province has been rocked by anti-regime protests since February 2011.

Saudi protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis mainly in the Qatif region and the town of Awamiyah in Eastern Province. Their primary demands were the release of all political prisoners, social justice and an end to systematic discrimination.

However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the repressive Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the province.

PG/HSN