Iranian Diplomat Warns Riyadh of Heavy Costs of Sheikh Nimr Execution
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister cautioned Saudi Arabia about the consequences of death penalty for the prominent Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, saying his possible execution would cost Riyadh dearly.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian described as “worrying” the reports that Sheikh Nimr’s death sentence has been upheld by a Saudi Arabian appeals court.
Mohamed al-Nimr, the cleric’s brother, told Tasnim on Sunday that the death sentence handed to his brother, who has been in detention for over three years on political charges, has been referred to King Salman’s office for a final decision.
Elsewhere in his comments, the Iranian diplomat recommended the Saudi regime to follow the path of “justice and rationality”, and stop adventurist policies towards its people and the regional countries.
Amir Abdollahian said the controversial reports about the possible execution of the Shiite cleric comes while Saudis have not still provided any satisfactory explanation of their mismanagement in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage that led to the killing of thousands of Shiite and Sunni Muslims in Mina, near Mecca.
The Mina tragedy, together with Saudi Arabia’s futile military aggression against the oppressed people of Yemen, proved that the Riyadh regime faces no good conditions, the diplomat added, noting that the Saudi officials had better stop “provocative and sectarian approaches” towards the Saudi citizens.
Sheikh Nimr was detained in July 2012 following demonstrations that erupted in Qatif region, Saudi Arabia. He is accused of delivering anti-regime speeches and defending political prisoners.
His arrest has sparked widespread protests in the Arab country, leaving several people dead.
Last October, Sheikh Nimr’s family reported that a Saudi judge has found him guilty of “sedition” and sentenced him to death.
