The police took action on Saturday when dozens of protesters had gathered outside the human rights office in the city to demand the release of their relatives who are still behind bars despite serving their jail terms.
The protesters described the move as a violation of human rights and condemned Saudi media for remaining silent on the issue.
A similar demonstration was also held outside the governor’s office in the city of al-Dammam in Eastern Province, on Saturday.
Reports say regime forces deployed in the area have prevented the families and relatives of prisoners from storming the governmental building.
Anti-regime protests have escalated in Saudi Arabia since a teenage protester was shot dead by the regime forces during a demonstration to demand the release of political prisoners last week.
Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province has been the scene of anti-regime protests since February 2011.
Saudi protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis mainly in the Qatif region and the town of Awamiyah in Eastern Province. They primarily demand the release of all political prisoners, social justice and an end to systematic discrimination.
However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the repressive Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime "routinely represses expression critical of the government."
