First woman stands trial over Saudi democracy protests

The first woman to be suspected of involvement in democracy protests in Saudi Arabia stood trial, local news reported on Tuesday.

The suspect is understood to be 43-year-old nurse, Naimah al-Matrod, according to the director of the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights in Berlin, Ali Adubisi, although local reports have failed to identify the woman.

She is "the first woman accused of being involved in terrorist activities" in Qatif, a coastal district where Shias form the majority, the Okaz daily reported.

In 2011, democracy protests - led by the kingdom's Shia minority - erupted in the area and developed into a call for equality in the Sunni-majority Gulf country.

Most of Saudi Arabia's Shias live in the oil-rich east, where they have long complained of marginalisation.

More than 200 men have been convicted in relation to the protests, and some were sentenced to death, Adubisi said, confirming Naimah is the first woman to go on trial in connection with the Qatif demonstrations.

"She is totally innocent" of anything other than protesting, he told AFP, describing her as a "human rights defender".

On Monday, prosecutors accused her of offences including "destabilising security, negatively affecting the social fabric, wreaking havoc, (and) inciting sectarian sedition", Okaz said.

She is also accused of using social media to "incite against the government and justice".

The accused asked the court for more time to prepare her defence "and to appoint a lawyer", Okaz added.

Adubisi said it was unclear what sentence al-Matrod could face if convicted.

Although the kingdom has crushed widespread protests in its Eastern province, protesters regularly take to the streets to demand authorities release those detained, including activists and community leaders, while also calling for equal rights and opportunities.