People Held Demonstration in Bahrain to Support Detained Saudi Cleric
KABUL: (Middle East Press) Protesters in Bahrain have taken to the streets to state their support for prominent Saudi Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, who has been sentenced to death by Saudi Arabia.
Demonstrations were held after Friday prayers in most areas across the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom including Boori, Samahij, Malikiyah, and Diraz.
The Bahraini protesters repeated slogans against the ruling Al Khalifa regime and demanded the release of the detained Saudi cleric.
On October 15, a Saudi court sentenced Sheikh Nimr to death after condemning him of disobeying regime laws and interfering in government affairs.
The cleric was attacked and arrested in July 2012, accused of delivering anti-regime speeches and defending political prisoners.
Human rights activists say the sentence issued for Sheikh Nimr was politically motivated.
Amnesty International has denounced the verdict, calling it “appalling”.
Rights groups say Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are committing systematic human rights abuses.
Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held nearly daily demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to renounce power.
