British Momineen beaten by Saudi police in Holy Makkah

By: AIM

LONDON, United Kingdom: A group of Shias who traveled from Britain to carryout a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia were beaten at the Great Mosque (Kaba) in Makkah and detained only to be released a day later.

Seven Britons and one American were detained from a larger group that was beaten with batons and sticks inflicting serious injuries resulting in some being taken to hospital to receive treatment.

Sources indicate that these incidents took place after the group became caught up in a debate over a religious practice which later escalated to the Saudi religious police resorting to violence.

Saudi Arabia which adheres to an extremist interpretation of Islamic teachings accuses Shia Muslims as being infidels and as such treats them with aggression and hostility.

There have been many previous cases of similar behaviour from Saudi authorities who for many years have oppressed their own Saudi citizens who follow the Shia school and who constitute more than 20% of the population.