Saudi Arabia Clamps Down On Dissent
Haytham Mouzahem asks whether recent Saudi actions are tied to efforts to quell sectarian dissent and contain any spillover from either the Shiite-based uprising in Bahrain or the Syrian crisis.
Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, a Saudi senior Shiite cleric, appeared in court this week in Saudi Arabia, while the Shiite community in the kingdom and human rights associations raised concerns about the fairness of his trial.
A month ago, a Saudi prosecutor demanded the death penalty — by crucifixion — for the prominent cleric, who was accused of inciting sectarian strife and terrorist offenses and “insulting the leaders of the Gulf states and (Wahhabi) clerics.”
The proposed death sentence caused an eruption of protests among Nimr’s supporters in Qatif and al-Ahsa and also from Shiite and human rights groups abroad.
Some believe Nimr was shot and arrested by Saudi security forces in Awamiyah village in July 2012 because he criticized former Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud following the crown prince’s death in June 2012. Nimr said, "People must rejoice at (Nayef's) death."
