Saudi Arabia flogged a group of teenagers after a rare riot in Khobar in which shops and restaurants were ransacked, a witness and local newspapers said on Tuesday. Human rights activists and liberals condemned Monday's flogging which Saudi newspapers said happened after groups of young people smashed windows of restaurants and shops in Khobar on Saudi national day last week.
Analysts and diplomats say the case shows the challenge for the government to offer social space for a young population. Newspapers such as al-Hayat and al-Watan said some 20 teenagers had received at least 30 lashes each. They showed pictures of police readying a square for the public lashings.