In the three years since the Gulf Crisis of 1990-1991 discrimination against religious minorities, particularly resident Christians and Shi’a Muslims has increased. Furthermore, there appears to be discrimination in the pattern of arrest on the basis of nationality. Public and private non- Muslim religious worship is, in practice, banned in Saudi Arabia. Christian meetings are often the target of the security and religious authorities. The public expression of Shi’a Muslim beliefs or the performance of their religious rites is also monitored and prohibited. During the past three years hundreds of men, women and children have been arrested and detained, most without charge or trial, and scores have been subjected to torture, flogging and other forms of ill-treatment.
