Islamic
Movement in Nigeria has condemned Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shi’ite
cleric, Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, who was kept in Saudi prison since July 2012.
According to a statement by Saudi
Arabia, he was put to death after being convicted by what the interior ministry
called terrorism offences.
According to a statement issued by
Islamic Movement in Nigeria: “It is known by all and sundry watching the
international scene that 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. This was a figure active on
the sensitive Sunni-Shia sectarian fault line that creates tension in the
Kingdom and far beyond.
IMN noted that the international
rights group, Reprieve, called the executions “appalling” , saying at least
four of those killed, including Sheikh Nimr, were put to death for offences
related to political protest. “Protests broke out in early 2011 in the oil-rich
Eastern Province in the wake of the Arab Spring. Sheikh Nimr’s arrest in the
following year, during which he was shot, triggered days of protests in which
three people were killed. Sheikh Nimr is known to have advocated only peaceful
demonstrations and eschewed all violent opposition to the government.”
“We condemn in strong terms the
execution of the Sheikh, because killing of Ulama of his status who advocate
for change in their societies will not augur well for peace and development,
the state executioners normally deceive the public that that was what they
crave for.”
“We are however not surprised by
what the Saudi regime did, because it is known for its poor human rights
record. It is known that Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions last
year, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years.”
“Saudi Arabia and other
undemocratic, despotic regimes across the globe should know that the truth can
not be silenced by state sponsored terrorism, which is what killing people who
call for peaceful change is, like Sheikh Nimr and others around the world.
ISN added that “Our condolences to
the Muslims all over the world and the Shia community in Saudi Arabia upon the
martyrdom of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, and all the other Shohada of the Ahl
al-Bayt in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain,
Kuwait, Nigeria and Afghanistan.
“We conclude by an excerpt of the
letter that Sheikh Nimr left to his mother before his martyrdom: For My Patient
Mother Umme Ja’far: Praise be to God, who orders people while they are living
under the shadow of his rule, [so] nobody can change anything unless the will
of God be at that way. My mom! Be aware that God is seer of what people are
doing even the smallest one and [our works] are not out of his will; it is
enough for us to know that what happens to us are only on the basis of divine
providence and nothing else. At the end, I leave you and all people to God who
is the best guardian and protector.”
PM News
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