Death Sentence Given to Saudi Cleric Sheikh al-Nimr Condemned

A court in Saudi Arabia has upheld a death sentence given to prominent Saudi Moslem cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the cleric’s brother says.

The senior cleric is accused of delivering anti-government speeches, defending political prisoners, and putting the national security of Saudi Arabia at “risk”.

Nimr was attacked and arrested in the Qatif region in July 2012. His arrest sparked widespread protests in the kingdom leaving several people dead.

Saudi Arabia has offered unlimited funds, arms and training to what it called “opposition” in Syria and has sent tens of thousands of foreign terrorists from all over the world to help attaining what it called  “freedom and democracy” to the people in Syria.

A senior Iranian official has called on Riyadh to overturn the death ruling handed down to prominent Saudi Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and not fuel tensions in the Muslim world any further.

 “Relevant Saudi judicial officials are expected to adopt a realistic approach and prevent the execution of the death sentence and keep tensions in the Muslim world from escalating,” said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

He said the death ruling could raise Muslims’ sentiments and trigger international outcry

There have been numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province since 2011, with the protestors calling for political reform and an end to what they call widespread discrimination. Several people have been killed and many others have been injured or arrested during the Saudi governments’ crackdown.

The Gulf monarchy has come under fire from international human rights organizations, which have criticized it for failing to address the rights situation in the kingdom. Critics say the country shows zero-tolerance toward dissent.

H. Mustafa