Saudi Shi’ites Warn against Death Penalty for Prominent Cleric
Shia Muslims and regime opponents in Saudi Arabia have warned against the prosecutor general’s move to demand the death penalty for prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
They say Saudi authorities made a big mistake by attempting to assassinate Sheikh al-Nimr and that it will be an even bigger mistake if the court issues a death verdict for the cleric.
Brochures have been distributed in the eastern province of Qatif warning that such a verdict will lead to great outrage against the regime in the eastern Shia-dominant regions of the country.
They say the Americans are responsible for the Sheikh’s life as Washington is the main supporter of the Saudi regime.
Sheikh Nimr was attacked, injured and arrested by Saudi security forces en route to his house in the Qatif region of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on July 8, 2012.
The cleric had called for the release of all those detained in protests against the Saudi regime, and all the prisoners of conscience. His arrest sparked protests in Eastern Province.
Nimr appeared in court earlier this week for the first time since July.
His family members said he was badly tortured in jail. Nimr’s sister recently said that prison authorities were denying her brother medical care.
According to Saudi activists, most of the detained political activists are being held by the regime without trial or charges.
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Brochures have been distributed in the eastern province of Qatif warning that such a verdict will lead to great outrage against the regime in the eastern Shia-dominant regions of the country.
They say the Americans are responsible for the Sheikh’s life as Washington is the main supporter of the Saudi regime.
Sheikh Nimr was attacked, injured and arrested by Saudi security forces en route to his house in the Qatif region of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on July 8, 2012.
The cleric had called for the release of all those detained in protests against the Saudi regime, and all the prisoners of conscience. His arrest sparked protests in Eastern Province.
Nimr appeared in court earlier this week for the first time since July.
His family members said he was badly tortured in jail. Nimr’s sister recently said that prison authorities were denying her brother medical care.
According to Saudi activists, most of the detained political activists are being held by the regime without trial or charges.
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