RIYADH, (HargeisaPress) — Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed influential Shiite cleric Nemer al-Nemer as part of its largest mass execution in decades, sparking protests in the country’s restive east and drawing a wave of condemnation from around the region.
He and 46 others were executed across the country after being convicted of terrorism, the Saudi Interior Ministry said.
Mr. al-Nemer played an important role in antigovernment protests during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings in Saudi Arabia’s east. He gained prominence in the Shiite community for his vocal support for Shiite protesters demanding equal rights and his fierce criticism of Saudi Arabia’s Sunni rulers.
Mr. al-Nemer’s execution drew strong criticism from Shiites across the Middle East. Iran’s state news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying it “proves nothing but the depth of irrationality and irresponsibility of the Saudi officials.” Having previously warned that carrying out a death sentence against Mr. al-Nemer “would cost Saudi Arabia dearly,” Iran also summoned the Saudi charge d’affair in Tehran to protest the execution.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah called Mr. al-Nemer’s execution a “stain that would haunt this regime,” while former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malki, another ally of Iran, said the execution “will topple the Saudi regime.”
Meanwhile, Arab Gulf allies of the kingdom such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates said they supported steps taken by Saudi Arabia to “confront terrorism.”
Small-scale demonstrations broke out in Saudi Arabia’s eastern region of Qatif to protest Mr. al-Nemer’s execution, a resident said. Similar protests were held in neighboring Bahrain, where a Sunni dynasty rules over a Shiite majority.
The majority of the rest of those executed—most of whom were Sunni—were tied to terror attacks carried out by al Qaeda between 2003 and 2006 aimed at destabilizing the Sunni Arab kingdom. Among them was Faris Al Showail, a leading ideologue in the Saudi branch of the militant group.
al-Nemer was sentenced to death in October 2014 and charged with crimes including disobeying the ruler, inciting sectarian strife and bearing arms against security forces. He wasn’t widely known outside Qatif before 2011, when he emerged as a leading voice behind Shiite protests that rocked the oil-rich eastern part of Saudi Arabia for two years.
He was arrested after a car chase near his family’s farm in their hometown of Awwamiya in July 2012. Authorities said he opened fire at security forces. His family has denied this and said he was unarmed.
“We condemn a deplore this unjust killing and consider it an example of killing wisdom and moderation,” Mr. al-Nemer’s family said in a statement.
Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh appeared on state television shortly after the announcement to express his support for the executions.
