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| Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Anger at execution of top Shia cleric | Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Anger at execution of top Shia cleric |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has sparked anger and protests in Shia communities across the region. | Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has sparked anger and protests in Shia communities across the region. |
| Shia-led Iran, Sunni-led Saudi Arabia's main regional rival, has led the official condemnation of the execution. | Shia-led Iran, Sunni-led Saudi Arabia's main regional rival, has led the official condemnation of the execution. |
| Protests have taken place in Saudi Arabia's Shia-majority Eastern Province, in Bahrain and several other countries. | |
| Sheikh Nimr was a vocal supporter of mass protests in the province in 2011. | Sheikh Nimr was a vocal supporter of mass protests in the province in 2011. |
| He was a prominent, outspoken cleric who articulated the feelings of those in Saudi Arabia's Shia minority who feel marginalised and discriminated against, the BBC's Middle East editor Alan Johnston reports. | He was a prominent, outspoken cleric who articulated the feelings of those in Saudi Arabia's Shia minority who feel marginalised and discriminated against, the BBC's Middle East editor Alan Johnston reports. |
| He was among 47 people put to death on Saturday after being convicted of terrorism offences. | He was among 47 people put to death on Saturday after being convicted of terrorism offences. |
| Iranian officials have been strident in their condemnation. The foreign ministry said the Sunni kingdom would pay a high price for its action, and it has summoned the Saudi charge d'affaires in Tehran in protest. | Iranian officials have been strident in their condemnation. The foreign ministry said the Sunni kingdom would pay a high price for its action, and it has summoned the Saudi charge d'affaires in Tehran in protest. |
| Saudi Arabia in turn summoned the Iranian envoy "and handed him a strong-worded protest note on the aggressive Iranian statements", a foreign ministry statement said. | |
| The website of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei posted a picture suggesting the execution was comparable to the actions of the so-called Islamic State group. | The website of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei posted a picture suggesting the execution was comparable to the actions of the so-called Islamic State group. |
| As the Shia power in the region, Iran takes huge interest in the affairs of Shia minorities in the Middle East, our correspondent reports, making it inevitable that the two countries would clash over Sheikh Nimr's treatment. | As the Shia power in the region, Iran takes huge interest in the affairs of Shia minorities in the Middle East, our correspondent reports, making it inevitable that the two countries would clash over Sheikh Nimr's treatment. |
| But one of the principal concerns of the Saudis is what they see as the growing influence of Iran in places like Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, he adds. | But one of the principal concerns of the Saudis is what they see as the growing influence of Iran in places like Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, he adds. |
| In other reaction: | |
| At least one protest march was held in Qatif, in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, defying a ban on public protests. | At least one protest march was held in Qatif, in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, defying a ban on public protests. |
| Protesters shouted the slogans "The people want the fall of the regime", and "Down with the al-Saud family", reminiscent of the 2011 protests in the wake of the Arab Spring. | Protesters shouted the slogans "The people want the fall of the regime", and "Down with the al-Saud family", reminiscent of the 2011 protests in the wake of the Arab Spring. |
| Sheikh Nimr's arrest in 2012, during which he was shot, triggered days of protests in Eastern Province in which three people were killed. | Sheikh Nimr's arrest in 2012, during which he was shot, triggered days of protests in Eastern Province in which three people were killed. |
| Saturday's executions were carried out simultaneously in 12 locations across Saudi Arabia. Of the 47 executed, one was a Chadian national while another was Egyptian. The rest were Saudis. | Saturday's executions were carried out simultaneously in 12 locations across Saudi Arabia. Of the 47 executed, one was a Chadian national while another was Egyptian. The rest were Saudis. |
| The BBC understands that among those executed was a man convicted of involvement in a gun attack that killed Simon Cumbers, a cameraman on an assignment for the BBC, in 2004. | The BBC understands that among those executed was a man convicted of involvement in a gun attack that killed Simon Cumbers, a cameraman on an assignment for the BBC, in 2004. |
| Adel al-Dubayti was sentenced in November 2014 for his role in multiple al-Qaeda attacks including the attack in the capital Riyadh which also left reporter Frank Gardner critically injured. | Adel al-Dubayti was sentenced in November 2014 for his role in multiple al-Qaeda attacks including the attack in the capital Riyadh which also left reporter Frank Gardner critically injured. |
| The international rights group Amnesty International said the 47 executions demonstrated the Saudi authorities' "utter disregard for human rights and life" and called Sheikh Nimr's trial "political and grossly unfair". | |
| Who was Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr? | Who was Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr? |
| Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Figurehead Shia cleric | Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Figurehead Shia cleric |
| Sheikh Nimr's family said he had been found guilty, among other charges, of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom but his supporters say he advocated only peaceful demonstrations and eschewed all violent opposition to the government. | Sheikh Nimr's family said he had been found guilty, among other charges, of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom but his supporters say he advocated only peaceful demonstrations and eschewed all violent opposition to the government. |
| Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia Muslims and blame Iran for stirring up discontent. | Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia Muslims 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. | Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions last year, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years. |