RIYADH, July 21: Rights groups have called for the release of a prominent Saudi reform activist and a woman arrested for leading a rare protest last week in the city of Buraidah, north of capital Riyadh.

There was reason to believe they were being held over a “peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression,” a statement by the Amnesty International said.

The all-woman group was protesting the arrest of their near and dear ones without any charges for years now.

The Buraidah region is regarded is a hotbed of militants waging a campaign against the Saudi government.

Shiekh Abdul Wahab, the founder of the austere Salafi movement often dubbed as the Wahabi movement, hailed form the region is known for its conservative and theological leanings.

The arrests were made from the home of Rima Al-Juraish, one of 13 women who staged the rare sit-in outside the outside the offices of state security in Buraidah.

Her husband is one of the 3,000 men believed to be under detention, apparently without charges, on suspicion of links to militants. The protesting women were demanding that their husbands or brothers, held on suspicion of involvement in a wave of violence that began in May 2003, either receive a public trial or be released.

Saudi security officials said they found secret weapons concealed at the raided home. They arrested five women and two men during the raid.