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Saudi Arabia Puts 47 to Death, Including Prominent Shiite Cleric Saudi Arabia Puts 47 to Death, Including Prominent Shiite Cleric
(about 4 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Saudi Arabia drew condemnation from Iran and its allies in the region on Saturday after putting to death a prominent Shiite cleric who had criticized the government’s treatment of its Shiite minority, in a mass execution of 47 men on terrorism-related charges. BAGHDAD — Saudi Arabia drew condemnation from Iran and its allies in the region on Saturday after an outspoken Saudi Shiite cleric who had criticized the government’s treatment of its Shiite minority was put to death in a mass execution of 47 men on terrorism-related charges.
Saudi officials said the mass execution, one of the largest in the kingdom in decades, was aimed at deterring those committed to violence against the state. But analysts said that the grouping of the cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, with hardened militants was a message to dissidents, and that it could exacerbate sectarian tensions across the Middle East. Saudi officials said the mass execution, one of the largest in the kingdom in decades, was aimed at deterring violence against the state. But analysts said that the grouping of the cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, with hardened jihadists was a warning to dissidents that could exacerbate sectarian tensions across the Middle East.
The executions were the first of 2016 and followed a year in which at least 157 people were put to death, the conservative Muslim kingdom’s highest yearly total in two decades.The executions were the first of 2016 and followed a year in which at least 157 people were put to death, the conservative Muslim kingdom’s highest yearly total in two decades.
They coincided with increased attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Sunni monarchy by the jihadists of the Islamic State as well as with an escalating rivalry with Shiite Iran that has fueled conflicts in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere. They coincided with increased attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Sunni monarchy by the jihadists of the Islamic State and an escalating rivalry with Shiite Iran that has fueled conflicts in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere.
Many in the region saw the execution of Sheikh Nimr as part of that rivalry, and Shiite leaders in different countries condemned the move. Sheikh Nimr was an outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy and was adopted as a symbolic leader by Shiite protesters in several Persian Gulf countries during the Arab Spring uprisings. Many in the region see the execution of Sheikh Nimr as part of that rivalry, and Shiite leaders in different countries condemned the move. Sheikh Nimr was an outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy and was adopted as a symbolic leader by Shiite protesters in several Persian Gulf countries during the Arab Spring uprisings.
“It is clear that this barren and irresponsible policy will have consequences for those endorsing it, and the Saudi government will have to pay for pursuing this policy,” said Hossein Jaberi-Ansari, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry.“It is clear that this barren and irresponsible policy will have consequences for those endorsing it, and the Saudi government will have to pay for pursuing this policy,” said Hossein Jaberi-Ansari, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
Criticism also came from Shiite politicians and clerics in Iraq, the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah, which issued a statement calling Sheikh Nimr’s execution an “assassination” of a man who had “demanded the squandered rights of an oppressed people.” Criticism also came from Shiite politicians and clerics in Iraq, the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. In Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi wrote on Twitter that he was “shocked” and “saddened” at Sheikh Nimr’s execution. “Peaceful opposition is a fundamental right,” he wrote. “Repression does not last.”
Scores of Shiites took to the streets to protest near Sheikh Nimr’s home in eastern Saudi Arabia, and riot police officers in Bahrain fired tear gas at about 100 protesters who carried Sheikh Nimr’s photograph and chanted against the ruling families of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, witnesses said. Hundreds of Shiites took to the streets to protest in eastern Saudi Arabia and in Bahrain, witnesses said.
But Saudi officials and analysts denied that sectarianism had played any role in the executions. In Iran, protesters tore down a flag from the Saudi Consulate in the city of Mashhad, and demonstrations were planned for Sunday in Tehran.
Saudi officials denied that sectarianism had played any role in the executions.
“This means that Saudi Arabia will not hesitate to punish all terrorists,” said Anwar Eshki, a retired major general in the Saudi Army who is the chairman of a research center in Jidda.“This means that Saudi Arabia will not hesitate to punish all terrorists,” said Anwar Eshki, a retired major general in the Saudi Army who is the chairman of a research center in Jidda.
When asked about Sheikh Nimr, General Eshki replied: “In Saudi Arabia, there is no difference between the criminals.” When asked about Sheikh Nimr, General Eshki replied, “In Saudi Arabia, there is no difference between the criminals.”
Most of those executed on Saturday had been convicted in connection with a wave of deadly attacks by Al Qaeda in the kingdom about a decade ago, and the Saudi government had appeared in recent weeks to be paving the way for the executions. Saudi allies like Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates defended the kingdom.
Reports that they were imminent had appeared on the websites of Saudi newspapers, and Al Arabiya, a Saudi-owned satellite channel, recently aired a multipart documentary that dramatized the kingdom’s fight against Al Qaeda. In executing Sheikh Nimr, Saudi Arabia had sent a “message of determination” to Iran, an Emirati political scientist, Abdulkhaliq Abdulla, wrote on Twitter, adding that the kingdom was better prepared to confront Iran “than at any other time.”
On Saturday, some Saudis, including journalists at a government news conference, thanked their leaders for carrying out the death sentences. The country’s top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, called them a “mercy to the prisoners” because the executions would save them from committing more evil acts, The Associated Press reported. Most of those executed on Saturday had been convicted in connection with deadly attacks by Al Qaeda in the kingdom about a decade ago. Four, including Sheikh Nimr, were Shiites accused of violence against the police during protests.
But some Western analysts said that killing Sheikh Nimr along with Qaeda militants sought to conflate his activism with a grave national threat. In recent weeks, the Saudi government appeared to be preparing the public for the executions. Reports that they were imminent had appeared on Saudi news websites, and Al Arabiya, a Saudi-owned satellite channel, recently aired a multipart documentary that dramatized the kingdom’s fight against Al Qaeda.
“This is indicative of the hard-line tilt the regime has taken,” said Frederic Wehrey, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who has spent time in Shiite parts of Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, some Saudis, including journalists at a government news conference, thanked officials for carrying out the death sentences. The top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, called them a “mercy to the prisoners” because the executions would save them from committing more evil acts.
Sheikh Nimr was based in the town of Awamiyah in eastern Saudi Arabia, and had spent years studying in Iran, as is common for Shiite clerics. While he was not prominent in religious circles, his criticisms of the monarchy and calls for Shiite empowerment gained him a following among young Shiites who felt discriminated against by the Saudi state, as well as among their colleagues in neighboring states. But some Western analysts said that executing Sheikh Nimr along with Qaeda militants conflated his outspoken activism with a grave national threat.
During a sermon in 2012, Sheikh Nimr criticized Prince Naif, who had been interior minister and had recently died, calling him “a man who had spread fear and terror.” “This is indicative of the hard-line tilt the regime has taken,” said Frederic Wehrey, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who has traveled in Shiite parts of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi authorities arrested Sheikh Nimr in July 2012, while the kingdom was leading a regional push to end the pro-democratic activism and protests that swept the region during the Arab Spring. Sheikh Nimr, said to be in his mid-50s, was from Awamiyah, a poor town surrounded by palm groves in eastern Saudi Arabia that is known for opposition to the monarchy.
The Saudi government’s fears of unrest prompted it to intervene to prop up the Sunni monarchy in Bahrain, which faced protests from a Shiite-led pro-democracy movement. In Saudi Arabia, the focal point of protests was in the oil-rich Eastern Province, where many Shiites live and often complain of official discrimination. He studied in Iran and Syria, but rose to prominence for fiery sermons after his return that criticized the ruling family and called for Shiite empowerment, even suggesting that Shiites could secede from the kingdom.
Sheikh Nimr played a leading role in the protests, and hundreds of people demonstrated in the province after video footage emerged of his arrest, which showed him bleeding while in custody. The government said he had been wounded in a shootout. Sheikh Nimr faced charges including sedition and was sentenced to death in October 2014. This gained him a following mostly among young Shiites who felt discriminated against by Persian Gulf governments. When these young people joined Arab Spring protests in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011, Sheikh Nimr became a leading figure.
Despite his sometimes fiery tone, his supporters and others who followed his career said he had not called for violence. During a sermon in 2012, Sheikh Nimr mocked Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who had been the Saudi interior minister and had recently died.
“He will be eaten by worms and suffer the torments of hell in the grave,” Sheikh Nimr said. “The man who made us live in fear and terror; shouldn’t we rejoice at his death?”
Prince Nayef’s son, Mohammed bin Nayef, is now the crown prince and runs the Interior Ministry, which carries out death sentences.
The Saudi authorities arrested Sheikh Nimr in July 2012, while the kingdom was leading a regional push to end the pro-democratic activism of the Arab Spring. This included sending tanks to prop up the Sunni monarchy in Bahrain, which faced protests led by the country’s Shiite majority.
Shiites also protested in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province, where many Shiites live and complain of discrimination.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in the province after video footage emerged of Sheikh Nimr’s arrest that showed him bleeding while in custody. The government said he had been wounded in a shootout. Sheikh Nimr faced charges including sedition and was sentenced to death in October 2014.
Despite his fiery tone, his supporters and others who followed his career said he had not called for violence.
“To lump this guy with terrorists is a stretch,” Mr. Wehrey said. “To my knowledge, he never called for armed insurrection.”“To lump this guy with terrorists is a stretch,” Mr. Wehrey said. “To my knowledge, he never called for armed insurrection.”
The executions Saturday came as Saudi Arabia sought to battle accusations that its justice system, based on a strict interpretation of Shariah law, uses methods similar to those of the Islamic State extremist group. Saudi officials bristle at such comparisons, saying that unlike the Islamic State, which has made a trademark of its grisly videos of executions of captives and members of religious minorities, their government puts to death only people who have been convicted in court of grave crimes. The executions came as Saudi Arabia sought to battle comparisons between its application of Shariah law and that of the Islamic State, the Sunni extremist group. Most of the executions on Saturday were by beheading; they were not public, unlike most Saudi executions. On Saturday, an image was posted on the website of the supreme leader in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, depicting what appeared to be an Islamic State fighter about to kill a hostage and a Saudi executioner with a sword, with the question “Any differences?”
The executions of at least 157 people in 2015, a year that began with the inauguration of a new monarch, King Salman, were a sharp increase from the 90 people put to death in 2014. Saudi officials have argued that the increase, which was strongly criticized by human rights groups, reflected not a change in policy but a backlog of death sentences that had built up in the final years of the previous monarch, King Abdullah. Saudi officials say their government puts to death only people who have been convicted of grave crimes, unlike the Islamic State, which kills hostages and releases grisly videos.
But human rights groups have criticized the Saudi justice system for not following due process by denying the accused access to legal counsel during interrogation and indicting suspects on vague charges like adopting extremist ideology or undermining the stability of the state.
The last mass execution of similar scale in Saudi Arabia was in 1980, when 63 jihadists were put to death after they seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
The executions of at least 157 people in 2015, a year that began with the inauguration of a new monarch, King Salman, were a sharp increase from the 90 people put to death in 2014. Saudi officials have argued that the increase reflects not a change in policy but a backlog of death sentences that had built up in the final years of the previous monarch, King Abdullah.