Human Rights Watch has called on Saudi Arabia to release scores of political prisoners in the country who have been detained during anti-government protests since last week. 

The rights group says Saudi forces have arrested 60 people, including women, who participated in a nationwide sit-in on December 23. 

The massive sit-in, held in the country's major mosques, took place in protest at the detention of senior cleric Yusuf al-Ahmad, who was arrested in July after he expressed solidarity with thousands of political prisoners behind bars across the Arab monarchy. 

Saudi Arabia is notorious for its over-capacity prisons, with an estimated population of 30,000 detainees. 

Like other Arab countries, Saudi Arabia has faced a wave of anti-government unrests against the ruling Al Saud family in recent months, despite the monarchy's severe ban on protests and political gatherings of any kind. 

The people across the oil-rich country call for political and economic reform and campaign against corruption. 

On Friday, Saudi Arabian police forces opened fire at anti-government protesters in the eastern town of Qatif, wounding at least three people. 

Similar protest rallies were also held in several towns and villages in the oil-rich Eastern Province, where demonstrators called for freedom and equality as well as the release of thousands of political prisoners. 

Earlier in November, Saudi forces attacked thousands of demonstrators, killing five people. The deaths fueled further demonstrations held on an almost daily basis ever since. 

Saudi Arabia does not have a parliament. Instead, it has a consultative Shura Council, which is totally an appointed body, aimed at providing the king with consultations on policies, laws, and other matters.