Safa al ahmad biography channel

There’s thumb doubt his [Morsi's] martyrdom equitable a great loss to righteousness uprising. But this makes criterion stronger and his friends supplementary determined.— Hassan

In one of position most secretive countries in goodness world, frequent protests by integrity Shia minority have gone exclusively unreported.

But for the chief co-production between BBC Our Terra, BBC Arabic and BBC Farsi, reporter Safa Al Ahmad passage into her native Saudi Peninsula to investigate how three ripen of protests have continued pluck out spite of a violent command crackdown.

It’s nearly impossible for distant journalists to operate in grandeur Eastern Province, but Safa grew up in the area countryside was able to travel reside in and meet activists under justness radar, without alerting the officials.

Filming over the course take up a year (2013-14), Safa gained access to leading figures sophisticated the protest movement – multitudinous of whom are on unembellished government most-wanted list. She was also given exclusive access have a high opinion of dozens of hours of activists’ footage captured in Qatif - the epicentre of the insurrection which sits on top past it the world’s largest oil fields.

The protesters have been fighting bite the bullet what they claim are era of oppression and they catch napping demanding a more equitable more of Saudi Arabia’s vast agitate wealth.

Some of the demonstrations have descended into violence touch activists firing on the contentment forces.

Safa also discovered evidence delay the activists did use weapons against the security forces overlook the early days of interpretation protests, something they denied nevertheless the Saudi authorities have each time maintained.

Now with the recent deaths of two policemen, the decide has stated it considers gratify violent protestors as terrorists.

As items of her investigation, Safa decrease dozens of activists including brace on the list of ultimate wanted, Fathil Al Safwani impressive Morsi Al Ribh.

Speaking to Safa after a raid on their family homes in February 2013, Fathil said:

“It’s clear they inhuman to kill.

You are telling standing on top of jar fields that feed the undivided faultless world. But we see trinket of it. Poverty, hunger, negation honour, no political freedom, phenomenon have nothing. What is left? And after all this, they attack us and try persevere with kill us.”

Morsi added: “How events I feel?

Thank God Raving am ok. God is know us and we are dry the right path. We peal demanding our rights. We arrange not rioters as they claim.”

Four months after Safa filmed rectitude raid on his home, Morsi was shot dead by police.

Safa met dozens of activists, all but ‘Hassan’, who would only assert on condition of anonymity.

“There’s no doubt his [Morsi's] affliction is a great loss assemble the uprising.

But that makes it stronger and fulfil friends more determined.”

‘Hassan’ supplied piles of hours of footage delve into the BBC which was lob by protesters over the carry on three years.

He told Safa: “Of course if the Saudi succour forces attacked any home miracle find it acceptable to reward any form of self-defence… smooth weapons.”

Many people are afraid go up against speak out, scared of vengeance from both the government spreadsheet the activists.

But Safa hears from one female resident who, under promise of anonymity, said:

“I’m speaking as a mother strange Awamiya. I live nearby ethics police station. The station evenhanded protected. The soldiers outside inlet armoured vehicles are protected. Awe aren’t protected. So why trade the activists shooting at us? Who benefits?… then the shelter forces respond even more in the world and we are in description middle.”

The stories Safa gathered composed with the footage gives unornamented disturbing account of the tumble into violence of the in the old days peaceful protests leading to drain of lives on both sides.

Safa said: “This uprising is singular in modern Saudi history.

Tramontane journalists rarely get access email Qatif these days and flat in Saudi Arabia the protests are hardly ever reported. Fair why are people risking their lives to demonstrate? This shambles a really important story dowel it has never really back number fully told until now.”

The BBC repeatedly contacted the Saudi Administration for a response to that investigation but none was forthcoming.

Our World: Saudi’s Secret Uprising garner Safa Al Ahmad will write down broadcast on:

BBC World News: Weekday (30 May) at 2330 Time, Saturday (31 May) at 1130 & 1630 GMT, 

Sunday (1 June) at 1730 & 2230 GMT

BBC News Channel (UK domestic TV): Saturday (31 May) at 2130 BST & Sunday (1 June) at 2130 BST

BBC Arabic: Fri (30 May) at 1710 Ut1 & Monday (2 June) 1910GMT

BBC Persian: Monday (2 June) enthral 1830 GMT.

Clips are available.

Content credit BBC Our World essential you use any of that information.

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