Saudi Arabia Deploys Forces in Qatif amid Fear of Protests after Executions - Tasnim News Agency

There has been reports of heavily deployment of Saudi security forces in the city of Qatif amid fears of huge protests against the recent executions of dozens of dissidents, according to social media users.

The Saudi regime executed as many as 81 prisoners in a single day on Saturday over what it called “terror-related offenses,” in the largest mass execution carried out in the kingdom in recent memory. As many as 41 of the victims hailed from Qatif.

The executions have been followed by waves of popular protests, especially in the kingdom’s east. Domestic and regional groupings have been issuing condemnatory statements against the regime.

Social media users reported that the kingdom has started summoning some of the families of the victims and threatened them to declare that they were content with the executions or face consequences.

The people of the Eastern Province, on the other hand, have not shied away from commemorating the victims. Religious center owners are apparently organizing a variety of activities to commemorate the individuals who were executed.

In the wake of the kingdom's apparent unwillingness to hand over the bodies of some of the victims, local activists have been publicizing the victims' names and features.

On his Twitter profile, the leading Saudi analyst Ali Abbas al-Ahmed tweeted a list of demonstrators and activists killed by the Saudi regime, and the message went viral.

Plainclothes Saudi security forces have reportedly been deployed across Qatif, preventing gatherings of more than two people from assembling.

The inhabitants of Qatif, on the other hand, have promised to take to the streets as soon as possible to protest the death of innocent people.