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Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric
Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said.
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Published at : January 2, 2016
Updated at : January 2, 2016 13:51
Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said.
He was among 47 put to death after being convicted of terrorism offences, it said in a statement.
Sheikh Nimr was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Eastern Province in 2011, where a Shia majority have long complained of marginalisation.
His arrest two years ago, during which he was shot, triggered days of unrest.
Sheikh Nimr's death sentence was confirmed in October.
His brother said he was found guilty of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces.