New Delhi:
Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has sparked protests at various parts of the world. Here is all you need to know about Nimr al-Nimr:
Born in 1959, Nimr al-Nimr, was a Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah, Saudi Arabia and was popular among the youth. Critical of the Saudi Arabian government, al-imr called for free elections in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities arrested him in 2009 after he criticised them and said the Eastern Province should secede if Saudi Shias' rights were not respected.
Protests broke out during 2011-12 when al-Nimr asked the protestors to resist bullets from the police using "the roar of the word" rather than violence and also predicted collapse of the government.
Al-Nimr was arrested after being shot in the leg by the Saudi Police on July 8, 2012.
The police firing on the crowd of thousands protesting against al-Nimr’s arrest killed two persons – Akbar al-Shakhouri and Mohamed al-Felfel.
The Specialized Criminal Court sentenced al-Nimr to death for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in Saudi Arabia, 'disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces."
Al-Nimr was executed on January 2, 2016, along with 46 others.
Al-Nimr was a Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah since 2008 and was also Friday prayers leader in al-Awamiyah since 2009.
