"Day of rage" fizzles in Saudi Arabia

In the end, the “day of rage,” organized on Facebook and by word of mouth, fizzled. No protests occurred in any Saudi cities except for a small demonstration in Al-Ahsa in restive Eastern province, said Maj. Gen. Mansour Turki of the Interior Ministry. Turki said he did not know if any arrests were made in connection with the Al-Ahsa protest. Human-rights activists did not return phone calls seeking comment on the events.

The prospect of street protests in the highly conservative kingdom provoked people’s curiosity, but few Saudis expected a big turnout.

Even though Saudi Arabia has serious problems with youth unemployment, official corruption and discrimination against women and religious minorities, among other things, even the kingdom’s critics do not want to overthrow the royal family. Instead they call for a gradual shift to a constitutional monarchy, a sentiment that all but saps the day of rage of its rage.