Interfax-Religion
Moscow, July 12, Interfax - Moscow hopes that the Saudi authorities will take measures to stabilize the situation in the country's eastern districts and will prevent new interfaith clashes there, Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's envoy for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, said.
According to media reports, two people were killed and another 20 were injured in clashes between police and peaceful demonstrators in Saudi Arabia's eastern Qatif province, home to many Shia, on July 9, the Russian diplomat said. Those injured include a prominent Saudi Shia religious leader, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was arrested by police.
"We hope that the authorities of the kingdom will take all of the measures needed to normalize the situation in its eastern districts, prevent any confrontation there, including interfaith clashes, and guarantee the observance of generally accepted human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, peaceful demonstrations and freedom of assembly as permitted by the law," Dolgov said.
The aforementioned events could negatively impact stability and civil accord in Saudi Arabia, he said.