Tehran, May13, The Iran Project - Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom has urged Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to reconsider the death sentence against highly-revered Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, warning the rulers in Riyadh over the severe consequences of his execution, Tasnim News Agency reported.

A group of Qom seminary scholars criticized Saudi Arabia for the death sentence given to Ayatollah Sheikh Baqir al-Nimr, saying his execution would have dire consequences for this government.

Addressing Saudi Arabia government, Senior cleric Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi condemned the Saudi court verdict to execute Sheikh al-Nimr and said that moderate Muslims around the world would not remain silent on this issue.

Ayatollah Noori Hamedani and Ayatollah Sobhani also stated that implementing  of this verdict indicates the lack of freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia, stressing on not respecting the rights of Shiites in this country.

Also, clerics and seminary students staged a protest and expressed their solidarity with prominent Saudi Shia cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr behind bars in Qom on Wednesday.

On October 15, a Saudi court handed down the death penalty to Sheikh Nimr after convicting him of sedition.

The cleric was attacked and arrested in July 2012, accused of delivering anti-regime speeches and defending political prisoners.