AL-QATIF, Saudi Arabia: The sounds of chanting eulogies and drumming rose from underground salons along the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia this week as Shiite Muslims celebrated birth anniversaries of holy Prophet Muhammad (P) and his sixth infallible descendant Al_imam As-Sadeq (p).

Everywhere else in the country, the festival is banned.

A few years back, such public observances were so forbidden that authorities prohibited Shiites from building large basements, to prevent them from creating illegal husseiniyas.

The Saudi government has long regarded Shiites as a security threat, particularly because they dominate the Eastern Province, home to the world’s largest concentration of oil assets.

But Saudi Arabia had been easing restrictions on Shiites gradually since 2004, when, emboldened by the ouster of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Shiites petitioned for equal rights in politics, religion and the workplace. The Saudi government agreed to allow Shiites in the Eastern Province to open husseiniyas and to mark their religious festivals publicly.

Shiites still are barred from high-ranking military or political posts. Shiites say they frequently are passed over for job promotions.

Sheik Hassan As-Saffar, a cleric, said that enraged Shiite youths now came to his office with stories of harassment and discrimination. Some Shiite families find pamphlets on their doorsteps accusing them of heresy.