A glance at the headlines from the Middle East these days makes clear that the region is in the grip of serious tumult. From the continuing bloodbath in Syria to the near daily terrorist attacks in Iraq to the political upheaval in Egypt, this is clearly a region influx. In the midst of all this — and thanks in large part to near-record oil prices — Saudi Arabia has managed to survive relatively unscathed. However,
violence which left two Shiite citizens dead in the Eastern Province on June 22 could potentially trigger a cascade effect that could threaten the kingdom’s stability and security. This evolving crisis must be handled with extreme care by the government as well as by moderate Shiite leaders who have long concluded — and correctly so — that a conciliatory approach is in the best interest of all Saudis.
There are widely varying accounts of the events surrounding the deaths of these two men as well as what kind of men they were and why they were targeted. One in particular, Mursi al-Rebah was on the government’s most wanted list for alleged involvement in armed clashes with the authorities as well as other serious criminal activities. However, many in his Shiite-majority town of Awamiya saw him as a defender of their rights, and they now consider him a “martyr.” A video clip posted on YouTube of a procession following his death appears to include thousands of mourners who could be heard chanting rare anti-government slogans as well as calling for “retribution for those who fired the bullets.” While Shiite protests have occurred intermittently over the past year and a half, most have not been nearly as politically charged as this one. The sense of anger at the perceived injustice is palpable.
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