Riyadh: Dozens of people wearing white shrouds have staged a peaceful march in the oil-producing region of eastern Saudi Arabia, demanding basic rights and the release of prisoners, according to a video posted on YouTube.
The video recording, dated June 24, showed some 30 men, many in Western clothes, marching with white shrouds that symbolise willingness to die as martyrs, in the mainly Shiite city of Qatif on Friday.
It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the recording, but Shiites have often held small protests in the area.
A Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman said he was not aware of the report but would check with local police.
A local rights activist said the protest was the first one of its kind in the area in two months.
"The demonstrators were not calling for bringing down the regime. They were simply demanding basic rights and an end to sectarian discrimination," Mohammad Al Syed said by telephone.
He said activists from the minority in the area had suspended protests in April following government promises to start a dialogue with them and free detainees.
Although the demonstrators had concealed their faces with checkered grey or black traditional headscarves, the footage was mostly filmed from the back, apparently as extra security to prevent authorities from identifying the protesters.
Some of the demonstrators had inscribed the text of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on their backs. "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile," read the red text, written in bold Arabic letters. The demonstrators also voiced solidarity with activists in Bahrain.
A separate and smaller night protest dated June 22 was posted on YouTube, showing a handful of young men marching in the town of Awwamiya while chanting "God is Greatest".
