Govt 7 Aug offered Russia major arms deal and pledge not to challenge Russian gas sales if Moscow decreases support for Syrian President Assad; 27 Aug called on international community to take “decisive and serious” position against Syrian regime. King Abdullah 16 Aug expressed further support for Egyptian military; FM Al-Faisal 18 Aug warned West against pressuring Egypt’s military to halt crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood, 19 Aug pledged to fill financial gaps left by Western aid withdrawal. Police 8 Aug arrested 2 men from Yemen and Chad suspected of planning suicide attacks, days after U.S. closed embassies citing al-Qaeda threat.

Police 12 June arrested dozens protesting detention of relatives in Buraida; 21 and 22 June shot dead 2 Shiites in Qatif area, one reportedly wanted for causing unrest. Founder of Saudi Political and Civil Rights Association Abdulkarim al-Khader sentenced to 8 years’ prison for inciting sedition. 7 activists sentenced to 5-10 years’ prison for inciting protests on Facebook. Sectarian  tensions increasing in response to events in Syria. 

State media reported 10 additional suspects in Iranian spy ring arrested.

Tensions following 20 March statement by 37 Shiite leaders accusing govt of using arrest of 18 people on spying charges to stir sectarian tension, detract attention from other issues particularly Sunni demand for reform. Further reports of protests in eastern city Qatif 4 April, Qassim Province 27 April, over political prisoners. Prosecutor 27 March demanded death penalty by crucifixion for Nimr al-Nimr, radical Shiite cleric arrested July 2012 on charges including instigating unrest, “waging war on God”.

Police 1 March arrested 176 in Buraida, Qassim province after another protest over prisoners’ incarceration without charge or trial; 5 March freed 109 protesters. Security forces mid-month arrested 18 Shiites, including an Iranian and a Lebanese citizen, accused of spying.

Security forces 9 Feb arrested several women and children following demonstrations in Riyadh and Buraidah calling for release of prisoners detained without charge. U.S. media 6 March reported CIA use of Saudi Arabian airbase for Yemen drone strikes. Police reported 3 incidents 23 Feb of unknown gunmen opening fire at prison and police targets in Shiite-populated Eastern Province.

Prince Saud Bin Nayef appointed governor of restive, oil-rich Shiite minority-dominated Eastern Province 14 Jan. Group of women with children arrested in Buraida 5 Jan following small, rare, peaceful protest against long-term detention of relatives without trial; security forces 6 Jan dispersed protest outside prison where 3 of the women were still held. Clerics 15 Jan protested outside royal palace against King’s decision to appoint 30 women to Shura Council.

Activists accused police of firing “indiscriminately” on protesters demonstrating against detentions in oil-rich Shiite dominated Qatif district 27 Dec; 1 teenager shot dead, 6 injured; authorities confirmed incident but said security patrol had come under fire first. Saudi novelist Turki al-Hamad taken into custody 24 Dec by order of interior ministry for tweets criticising Islamists. Raif Badawi charged with apostasy 17 Dec for insulting Islam through his “Free Saudi Liberals” website. Saudi Arabia 24 Dec called for “strong and solid Gulf Union with shared defense and security systems” at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, leading to decision on unified command for all GCC military forces. Govt 20 Dec invited Pakistan foreign minister to Riyadh to discuss bilateral relations and, reportedly, to persuade Islamabad to cancel gas pipeline project with Iran.

King Abdullah 5 Nov replaced Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz with Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, King’s nephew. Saudi Arabia and Iran exchanged accusations and threats over alleged violations of each other’s waters. Suspected al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula gunmen 5 Nov clashed with Saudi border guards while trying to cross into Yemen from Najran province, killing 2; 10 Saudi Arabians, 1 Yemeni arrested. Gun- men 28 Nov killed Saudi diplomat, bodyguard in Yemeni capital. Dozens arrested, reports of violence 27 Nov following rare protest in Riyadh demanding release or immediate trial of jailed relatives.

Anti-regime protests in Qatif 13 Oct called for release of political activists including anti-regime poet Adel al-Labad, arrested 11 Oct. Interior Ministry 12 Oct warned against future rallies. 19 charged 17 Oct over participation in 23 Sept peaceful protest outside prison in Qassim province seeking release of family members. Human Rights Watch 28 Oct urged govt to stop prosecution of protesters, address legitimate concerns. Govt reportedly withdrew from Egyptian-initiated Syrian contact group.