Shi'ites In Saudi Arabia Unhappy With Removal of Court Head

In Saudi Arabia, tensions have erupted between the dominant conservative Sunnis and the minority Shi'ites who live mainly in Qatif and al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province. Yesterday's Khaleej Times reports that the recent removal of Sheikh Mohammed al-Obaidan as head of the Shi'a court in Qatif is seen by Shi'as as an attempt to subordinate their court system to Sunni judicial authorities. The current 10 judges staffing Shi'ite courts are insufficient to serve the growing Shi'ite population. So some Shi'ites have been forced to use Sunni courts.