The men are currently being held at Shargeya Police Station and police have banned any of their relatives from visiting them or sending food and coffee for them.

Their families said they are old and should not be treated like this, and that they were defending their land from members of a different tribe. Their families have also filed complaints with the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) in Taif.

One of the men’s sons said his father suffers from liver disease and cannot move his left arm, and that he fears for his health should he remain at the police station any longer.

Another man claimed his father suffered a stroke early this year and that he is at risk of suffering a second stroke if placed under pressure. A third said his father is diabetic while a fourth said his father suffers from back pain.

All of the men’s families said they need medical help and hope they will be released on bail or allowed to meet their families. The men were arrested after they opened fire at members of a different tribe that claimed ownership of a disputed plot of land. The elderly men say they fired shots to scare the other people away. Police are currently coordinating with the NSHR to resolve the matter.