Hundreds of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s supporters protested his execution in his hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain and as far away as northern India. Here’s a look at the aftermath and regional implications of al-Nimr’s execution.
Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, was a widely revered Shiite Muslim cleric from eastern Saudi Arabia who was convicted in Oct. 2014 of sedition and other charges and sentenced to death. He was an outspoken government critic and a key leader of Shiite protests in eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011. He was also a critic of the government of Bahrain, where a Sunni-led monarchy suppressed protests by Shiites who make up the majority of the tiny island nation. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain crush the uprising, concerned it would spread and destabilize other Arab Gulf countries. Al-Nimr, however, also spoke out against the Iranian-backed government in Syria for killing protesters there. He directly criticized the Al Saud ruling family for its domestic policies and forcefully spoke out against King Salman’s elder brother, the late Crown Prince and former Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. His death is seen by some by some as a warning to anyone thinking of calling for reforms and wider political freedoms in Saudi Arabia. His death also strikes a sensitive chord for Saudi Shiites who claim they are discriminated against by authorities in the kingdom, where many ultraconservatives Sunnis view Shiites as heretics. Al-Nimr’s execution came as a surprise to even his own family, his brother said.