Security forces clashed with demonstrators in Damascus on Tuesday, detaining at least 35 protesters, including a 10 year old boy. The Syrian demonstrators, who demanded the release of political prisoners, ignored a ban on all demonstrations and protest marches in the capital.
A day after a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters camped out at Pearl Square in the capital Manama, at least five key opposition leaders have been arrested. The detained leaders belong to different opposition parties, all of which are asking for political reform.
Tursunjan Hezim, Uighur editor of well known website Bilik, has reportedly been given a seven-year prison sentence. The sentence was handed down for unknown charges at a secret trial in July 2010, but has only been made public now. Hezim had been in detention at a secret location since 2009, after ethnic riots broke out in the Chinese north-western region of Xinjiang.
Police in the eastern city of Qatif opened fire on protesters and beat them with batons at a protest on Thursday, resulting in at least three people being injured. The protest was held to demand the release of prisoners that demonstrators say are being held without charge. The Saudi interior ministry recently announced that all protests are illegal and security forces would use any measures to stop them from going ahead.