JEDDAH: Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr, commonly referred to as Sheikh Nimr (1959-Jan. 2, 2016) was an independent Shiite Sheikh in Al-Awamiyah, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
The cleric was popular among youths and critical of the Saudi Arabian government, calling for elections in Saudi Arabia.
In 2009, he criticized Saudi authorities and suggested secession of the Eastern Province if Shiite rights were not respected. A warrant for his arrest was issued and 35 people were arrested.
During protests in 2011–2012, Al-Nimr called for protesters to resist security forces using “the roar of the word” rather than violence. He was seen by The Guardian as having “taken the lead in [the] uprising.”
On July 8, 2012 Al-Nimr was shot in the leg by police and arrested, in what police described as an exchange of gunfire.
On Oct. 15, 2014, Al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for seeking ‘foreign meddling’ in Saudi Arabia, ‘disobeying’ its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces.
The story originally appeared in Arab News
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