Tehran, Jan 3, IRNA - Iraq's most senior Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Sunday strongly condemned the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.

Ayatollah al-Sistani said the pure blood of martyr Sheikh Nimr and his Muslim brothers were spilled cruelly and unjustly.

He also extended his condolences on the sad occasion of the execution of Sheikh Nimr.

Sheikh Nimr was attacked and arrested in the Qatif region of Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in July 2012, and had been charged with undermining the kingdom’s security, making anti-government speeches, and defending political prisoners. Sheikh Nimr had denied the accusations.

In October 2014, a Saudi court sentenced Sheikh Nimr to death, provoking huge condemnations and criticism in the Middle East and the world.

On October 25, Nimr’s family confirmed that the Saudi Supreme Court and the Specialized Appeals Court had endorsed a death sentence issued last year against him for inciting sectarian strife and disobeying King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The cleric had denied the charges.
By IRNA