KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia: Several renowned Shia figures in Khobar city have been arrested by Saudi authorities on Monday March 29 for breaching a ban on practicing Shia religious activities.

According to Rasid news Hajj Abdullah Fahad Al-Makki (73), Hajj Mahdi Ahmed Al-Khudhair (64) and Hajj Hassan Saleh Al-Muhanna (45) were seized on their arrival to the Intelligence Administration offices and were sent immediately to prison for a one month imprisonment.

Report further said that the grounds behind their arrest were breaching a ban on Shia religious practices which the accused have arranged for Ashura last December.

Saudi authorities closed nine Shia mosques in the cities of Khobar, Ras Tanura, Khafji and Abqaiq. They also put surveillance on several "mosques possible" areas and have detained several Shia citizens for hosting Jama'a (collective) prayers in their houses.

It should be noted here that Emara vice Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz and Emara Prince Office manager Zareb Al-Qahtani informed Shia delegation to utilize Sunni mosques when they went complaining about closure of their own mosques.

Yet, when Shia citizen followed Emara instruction and performed prayers in Sunni mosques, they were detained by authorities!