Second Press Release

IHRC has received a detailed account of a highly disturbing incident that took place on Sunday 16 October 2011 in the eastern Saudi town of Qatif.

As reported earlier by IHRC (see press release here ) Saudi security forces are engaged in a systematic campaign targeting youngsters on motorcycles with arbitrary arrests and shooting at them using live rounds.

A complete incident report was received from activists on the ground in Saudi Arabia, including identification photographs of the victims, which will be sent to media outlets on request.

Incident report
Location: Al-Qatif – Al-Shuwaikah – Water tower intersection
Date: Sunday night 16 October 2011
Time: 8:30pm

1.  Mohsin Ali ‘Isa Aal-Moghais, 21 years old
Locality: Al-Bahari, resides in Al-Qadeeh
Place of detention: Qatif Police Station
Injuries: minor injury to his foot, apparent that he was not hit by bullets, but rather sustained injuries as he fell to the ground while being shot at.
Additional information: went to Al-Qatif General Hospital on his own after Mamdooh Ja’far Ali Al-Alwan, another victim who sustained injuries, was instructed by the authorities to ask the rest of his friends who were present at the incident to join him at the hospital. He was then taken from the hospital to the detention centre the same night after receiving treatment.

2.  Saleh Mehdi Muhammad Marrar, 13 years old
Locality: Al-Qadeeh
Place of detention: Youth detention centre (Al-Dar)
Injuries: sustained two bullet wounds to his left thigh and one bullet wound to his right foot.
Additional information: went to Al-Qatif General Hospital on his own after Mamdooh Ja’far Ali Al-Alwan, another victim who sustained injuries, was instructed by the authorities to ask the rest of his friends who were present at the incident to join him at the hospital. He was then taken from the hospital to the detention centre the same night after receiving treatment.

3.  Mamdooh Ja’far Ali Al-Alwan, 20 years old
Locality: Al-Qadeeh
Place of detention: Qatif Police Station
Injuries: sustained a bullet wound in his back.
Additional information: was first transported by an onlooker from the place of the incident to Mudhar Health Clinic, from where he was transferred to Qatif General Hospital. He remained at the hospital until 8:30pm on Tuesday 17 October 2011, after which he was transferred to Qatif Police Station.

4.  Ali Ja’far Ali Al-Alwan, 17 years old
Locality: Al-Qadeeh
Place of detention: Youth detention centre (Al-Dar)
Injuries: sustained bullet injuries to his foot (it is currently unknown by how many bullets).
Additional information: he has undergone two operations to have the bullets removed. He went to Al-Qatif General Hospital on his own after his brother, Mamdooh Ja’far Ali Al-Alwan, another victim who sustained injuries, was instructed by the authorities to ask the rest of his friends who were present at the incident to join him at the hospital. He was then taken from the hospital to the detention centre the same night after receiving treatment. He was taken from the hospital at 12:30p on Tuesday 17 October 2011.

Massoud Shadjareh, chair of IHRC, stated:

“This incident clearly illustrates the absolutely despicable conduct of the Saudi government, even when it comes to its own citizens. What kind of humanity remains when someone in a position of authority can so callously target and severely injure mere children using live rounds, then be so vile as to trick them into coming to the hospital so that they may be arrested and detained.”

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 7958522196 or alternatively (+44) 20 8904 4222, email: info@ihrc.org. [ENDS]

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