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| Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric | Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said. | Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said. |
| He was among 47 put to death after being convicted of terrorism offences, it said in a statement. | He was among 47 put to death after being convicted of terrorism offences, it said in a statement. |
| Sheikh Nimr was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Eastern Province in 2011, where a Shia majority have long complained of marginalisation. | |
| His arrest two years ago, during which he was shot, triggered days of unrest. | His arrest two years ago, during which he was shot, triggered days of unrest. |
| Sheikh Nimr's death sentence was confirmed in October. | |
| His brother said he was found guilty of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces. | |
| Shia-led Iran - the main regional rival of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia - previously warned that executing Sheikh Nimr would "cost Saudi Arabia dearly". | |
| Protests broke out in early 2011 in the oil-rich Eastern Province in the wake of the Arab Spring. | |
| Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia and blame Iran for stirring up discontent. | |
| Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions last year, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years. |