Saudi authorities released on last Sunday a Saudi Shia citizen after several days detention for hosting Jamaa prayers in his house in Khbar city as several Shia mosques were closed by authorities.

Sources informed Rasid thta Sayed Yusif Sharaf Al-Hashim was released after eight days of detention for hosting Jamaa prayers in his house in Al-Jiser area of Khobar city.

Few days back, the prominent Shia cleric Sayed Mohammad Al-Nasser said that tension has intensified and continuous surveillance of Shia neighborhood is observed which created unhealthy atmosphere that resembles a security situation.

Authorities have detained and released several prominent clerics and public Shia figures for their continuation to perform Jamaa prayers.

For more than year, Saudi authorities are enforcing a stringent ban on Jamaa prayers in private Shia houses as all Shia mosques were closed by authorities.

Estimates indicate that more than 20000 Shia citizens live in Khobar.

Eastern Province Governance (Emara) refuses to comment on the reasons behind closure of Shia mosques or providing permit to build new ones.

Last month, two top secret circulars from Eastern Province Emara stressed that all Shia mosques must be closed in cities of Khobar, Dammam and Khafji.

Both circulars contained sectarian orders to enforce a ban on Shia building mosques or religious houses outside the Shia majority cities of Qatif, Hassa and Najran.

The annual US State Department report on International Religious Freedom condemned Saudi Arabia for its violations against Shia citizens.

The last week’s report ranked Saudi Arabia as one of the top “Religious Freedom” violators.

The report highlighted that Saudi Shia citizens are suffering a significant political, economic, legal, social, and religious discrimination, including limited employment and educational opportunities, underrepresentation in official institutions, and restrictions on the practice of their faith and on the building of places of worship and community centers.

This is the second report that shed light on Saudi violation to human rights and discrimination against Shia citizens.