28 Mar 2024
Sunday 3 January 2016 - 15:05
Story Code : 195088

Iran clerics, seminary students in Qom, Mashhad slam Nimr execution

Iran clerics, seminary students in Qom, Mashhad slam Nimr execution
A group of Iranian clerics and seminary students have held demonstrations in the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad in condemnation of Saudi Arabias execution of prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Addressing the demonstrators in Qom, Tehrans Friday Prayers leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, said Riyadh must immediately return the body of Sheikh Nimr to his family.

He added that Nimrs execution will soon lead to the collapse of the Saudi regime.

The senior Iranian cleric added thatSaudi Arabia has been the main contributor to the formation of Takfiri groups and is supporting them, while accusing Iran of backing terrorists.

The world must know that a bunch of inexperienced youths influenced by Zionistsare running Saudi Arabia, Khatami said, adding, Saudi Arabia is an ally to Zionists.
On Saturday, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced that Sheikh Nimr along with 46 other people, who were convicted of being involved in terrorism and adopting a Takfiri ideology, had been executed.

Sheikh Nimr, a critic of the Riyadh regime, was arrested in 2012 in the Qatif region of Shia-dominated Eastern Province, which was the scene of peaceful anti-regime demonstrations at the time.

He was charged with instigating unrest and undermining the kingdoms security, making anti-government speeches and defending political prisoners. He had rejected all the charges as baseless.

Following the execution, authorities refused to hand over the clerics remains and buried them at an undisclosed cemetery, according to the Sheikhs brother, Mohamed Nimr.

He said that the family intended to bury Nimr in his home town, Qatif.

Meanwhile, Tehran Governor Generals Office said in a statement that a number of political groups are scheduled to hold a demonstration in the Iranian capital at 3:00 p.m. local time (1130 GMT) on Sunday.

The statement also condemned asillegal a gathering outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran on Saturday night.

40 arrested over Saudi embassy gathering

Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said on Sunday that 40 people have been identified and arrested for entering the premises of the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

He said an investigation is now underway to track down other suspects.

On Saturday evening, Iranian police prevented angry protesters from storming the embassy.

According to reports, a number of protesters threw incendiary devices at the buildingcausing minor damage. Police forces, deployed to keep order, dispersed the angry crowd.

In the northeastern city of Mashhad, protesters gathered outside the Saudi consulate.

Following the incident, Irans Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari called on people to refrain from gathering outside Saudi Arabias diplomatic buildings.

Jaberi Ansari added that Irans diplomatic police are responsible for dealing with any disturbance on Riyadhs diplomatic locations and will act in accordance with this responsibility. The Iranian official, however, emphasized that the Iranian Foreign Ministry understands the sentiments over the execution of Sheikh Nimr.

By Press TV
https://theiranproject.com/vdcaamn6a49now1.tgk4.html
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