On 3 November 2009 the Saudi General Investigation Directorate (al-Mabaheth al-`Amma) of al-Ahsa arrested the Shia citizens Muneer Ali al-Hassawi and Ahmad Mohammad al-Isa, from Bani Maan town of Al-Ahsa.

The citizens were arrested on accusations that they participated in the celebration of the celebration of the Birthday Anniversary of Imam Al-Mahdi (A.S.) last August .

Al-Hassawi and al-Isa were sentenced to one week imprisonment and transported to the general prison of Al-Ahsa on orders of Al-Hasa governor ( Badr bin Muhammad bin Jalawi )  .

It is worth to mention that the Saudi authorities arrested more than six young Shi’a citizens on charges of  participation in religious activities in their areas .