RIYADH – A court in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday sentenced a Shiite cleric to death Wednesday on charges of causing sectarian strife and insulting public officials.
Nimr al-Nimr, in his mid 50s, is a popular cleric in the largely Shiite-populated, oil-rich eastern regions of the conservative Sunni kingdom.
He was considered a leader during anti-government protests that broke out in 2011, at the time of the Arab Spring. [eap_ad_2] He has been arrested several times, most recently in 2012, when he was shot and injured by police.
However, human rights groups have warned he most likely would not receive a fair trial.
The Saudis said he has stoked violence in the country and rejected the ruling monarchy.
Al-Nimr is accused of trying to set up Shiite religious rule in neighbouring Bahrain, also a Sunni monarchy.
Meanwhile, the majority of Bahrainis are Shiite.
The cleric has in the past demanded increased rights for the Shiite minority, claiming they are 15 per cent of the Saudi population and often complain of discrimination.
Report says he has threatened to lead the east to secede if the ruling monarchy did not change policy, but has urged non-violent protests.
According to Saudi monarchy, strife with the Shiite minority is fermented by Iran, its regional rival. (dpa/NAN) [eap_ad_3]
