Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi Shia religious leader, Died at 56

  Religion

Nimr Baqr al-Nimr was born in 1959, and died on January 2, 2016.

He was popular among youth and critical of the Saudi Arabian government.

Nimr called for elections in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Nimr claimed that he was beaten by Mabahith when arrested in 2006.

In the year 2009, Nimr criticised Saudi authorities and suggested secession of the Eastern Province if Saudi Shias’ rights were not better respected.

The states had issue a warrant for his arrest was issued and 35 people were arrested.

From 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr called for protestors to resist police bullets using “the roar of the word” rather than violence, predicted the overthrow of the government if repression continued, and was seen by The Guardian as having “taken the lead in the uprising”.

On July 8, 2012, he was shot by police in the leg and arrested, in what police described as an “exchange of gunfire”.

Thereafter, thousands of people protested in response in several protests in which two men, Akbar al-Shakhouri and Mohamed al-Felfel, were killed by police bullets.

He began his hunger strike and appeared to have been tortured.

On August 21, the Asharq Center for Human Rights expressed their concern during his hunger strike, calling for international support to allow access by family, lawyer and human rights activists.

He was sentenced to death on October 15, 2014, by the Specialized Criminal Court for “seeking ‘foreign meddling’ in Saudi Arabia, ‘disobeying’ its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces” and his brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, was arrested on the same day for tweeting information about the death sentence.

Nimr was executed on or shortly before 2 January 2, 2016, among 47 people executed, following his death the body of the executed was not handed over to his people.

Nimr al-Nimr was executed at 56 yrs old.