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Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Shia cleric was a thorn in Saudi regime's side Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Shia cleric was a thorn in Saudi regime's side
(about 1 hour later)
Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, whose execution by Saudi Arabia has sparked condemnation across the Middle East, rose to international prominence during the pro-democracy protests that erupted in the country’s eastern provinces in 2011.Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, whose execution by Saudi Arabia has sparked condemnation across the Middle East, rose to international prominence during the pro-democracy protests that erupted in the country’s eastern provinces in 2011.
Nimr’s staunch and vocal support of the movement, in regions where the Shia majority had frequently complained of marginalisation, saw the 56-year-old cited as the driving force behind the protests while affording him hero status among Saudi’s Shia youth. Nimr’s staunch and vocal support of the movement in regions where the Shia majority had frequently complained of marginalisation, saw the 56-year-old cited as the driving force behind the protests while affording him hero status among Saudi’s Shia youth.
Related: Saudi execution of Shia cleric sparks outrage in Middle EastRelated: Saudi execution of Shia cleric sparks outrage in Middle East
To the Sunni-ruled kingdom’s ruling elite, however, Nimr had become a high-profile thorn in its side. Inspired by the Arab Spring, Saudi’s mass anti-government protests of 2011 included public speeches by Nimr that urged an end to the Al Saud monarchy and pushed for equality for the state’s Shia community. To the Sunni kingdom’s ruling elite, however, Nimr had become a high-profile thorn in its side. Inspired by the Arab spring, Saudi Arabia’s mass anti-government protests of 2011 included public speeches by Nimr that urged an end to the Al Saud monarchy and pushed for equality for the state’s Shia community.
Crucially, according to his supporters, the cleric was careful to avoid calling for violence, his advocates insisting he eschewed all but peaceful opposition to the government. On one occasion, Nimr urged protestors to resist police bullets using only “the roar of the word”. As his role in the protests became more prominent, the cleric warned the Saudi authorities that if they refused to “stop bloodshed”, the government’s repressive tendencies risked it being overthrown. According to his supporters, the cleric was careful to avoid calling for violence and eschewed all but peaceful opposition to the government. On one occasion, he urged protesters to resist police bullets using only “the roar of the word”. As his role in the protests became more prominent, he warned the Saudi authorities that if they refused to “stop bloodshed”, the government’s repressive tendencies risked it being overthrown.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency announced in July 2012 that Nimr had been arrested and charged with “instigating unrest” – a chaotic affair during which the Shia cleric was shot and injured by police. The state-run Saudi Press Agency announced in July 2012 that Nimr had been arrested and charged with instigating unrest, a chaotic incident during which the Shia cleric was shot and injured by police.
Nimr faced a raft of serious charges, including “disobeying the ruler” and “encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations” – allegations that human rights groups including Amnesty claimed violated free speech protections. The group went on to describe Nimr’s arrest as being part of a campaign by the authorities in Saudi Arabia to quash all dissent. Nimr faced a series of serious charges, including “disobeying the ruler” and “encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations”, allegations that human rights groups including Amnesty claimed violated free speech protections. The group went on to describe Nimr’s arrest as part of a campaign by the Saudi authorities to quash all dissent.
Related: Middle East condemns Saudi execution of Shia cleric - liveRelated: Middle East condemns Saudi execution of Shia cleric - live
The extent of Nimr’s popularity was articulated by the days of unrest and large scale protests that followed his controversial arrest. The extent of Nimr’s popularity was articulated by the days of unrest and large scale protests that followed his controversial arrest. While in custody, his wife, Muna Jabir al-Shariyavi, died in hospital in New York, further galvanis ing public sympathy for him.
While in custody, his wife, Muna Jabir al-Shariyavi, died in hospital in New York, further galvanised public sympathy for Nimr. In turn, he began a hunger strike while human rights groups alleged he appeared to have been tortured and called for international support to allow access by family and lawyers. In turn, he began a hunger strike while human rights groups alleged he appeared to have been tortured and called for international support to allow access by family and lawyers.
In October 2014, Nimr was sentenced to death by Saudi Arabia’s specialised criminal court for “seeking ‘foreign meddling’ in the kingdom along with ‘disobeying’ its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces’. His brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, tweeted information about the death sentence and was promptly arrested on the same day. In October 2014, Saudi Arabia’s specialised criminal court sentenced Nimr to death for seeking ‘foreign meddling’ in the kingdom along with ‘disobeying’ its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces’. His brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, tweeted information about the death sentence and was promptly arrested on the same day.
As news of the sentence travelled, the head of Iran’s armed forces warned Saudi Arabia that it would “pay dearly” if it dared to execute the cleric. Powerful and prominent in life, it is the nature of Nimr’s death that could shape his legacy. As news of the sentence travelled, the head of Iran’s armed forces warned Saudi Arabia that it would “pay dearly” if it dared execute the cleric. Powerful and prominent in life, it is the nature of Nimr’s death that could shape his legacy.