Contrary to what Iran claims, the Al-Masawara district in Al-Awamiya, Qatif, is not a place where people are oppressed, but a derelict neighborhood that offers a safe cover for terrorists. Speaking to Sabq online newspaper and commenting in various tweets, Kawther Al-Arbash, Shoura Council member and a renowned writer, said that Al-Masawara is nothing but a squalid quarter of abandoned buildings from where residents are fleeing to modern cities. Some of the houses are so constricted that one has squeeze through its narrow passages, she said. "Al-Masawara has become a den for criminals, robbers and terrorists. People there are in a constant state of panic because of the crime-infested streets. I have been hearing about crimes there since my childhood. There is fear all over," she noted. The Al-Masawara criminals not only commit grave crimes such as murders and rapes, but also indulge in gun-running and robberies. They also use the locality to shelter wanted criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals used to rally around their leader Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr, who was executed last year, doubling their crimes and politicizing their goals. "They are surely not honorable people of Qatif, but a bunch of criminals. They are uniform in their hatred for mankind and the homeland, and are trying to tear the very fabric of the nation." The Shoura member pointed out that peace-loving people of Al-Masawara was eager to cleanse the area of terrorism and criminal activities, and to cooperate with the security forces in this mission. But terrorists and wanted criminals mercilessly assassinated the people who raised their voices against evil. One such person was Abu Samir Al-Rebh whose dead body was found lying in the street. He was a victim of terror, who was dubbed spy by the terrorists. Nabih Al-Ibrahim, another honorable voice against terror, was fortunate to escape an assassination attempt when masked men tried to gun him down. "This is why Al-Masawara criminals are up in arms against efforts to clear the slums from the district – a normal civic activity in any part of the world," she said. On the attitude of the people in Qatif towards terrorism, Kawther Al-Arbash said that deep down, the citizens in the region are pained by the acts of terror. They speak their hearts out to people whom they trust. They appeal to the security bodies to protect them. "I receive numerous calls and messages from the people expressing their sincere desire for security and stability. I even meet them face-to-face. They are simply fed up with terror." This is the reality of Al-Masawara, which is contrary to what is reported by some Arab television channels toeing the Iranian line. It is not a sectarian war that is taking place, but a cleansing operation to weed out terrorists, she emphasized, adding that criminal elements are bent on distorting facts by shouting from the rooftops that their heritage is being destroyed. Al-Mosawara area in the Eastren Provence old and dilapidated buildings
