Kuala Lumpur, Jan 12, IRNA � The Islamic Council of New Zealand termed Saudi Arabia as a regime which supports terrorism.


In a statement issued to condemn execution of the Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the organization strongly condemned the heinous crime.

According to �Scoop� news website, the Islamic Council of New Zealand said the death of the prominent Shia scholar was among 47 Saudi executions, which have led to the cutting of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and ramped up regional tensions in the Persian Gulf.

The New Zealand government said it did not agree with the killings but would not say if it would affect trade deal talks.

The Islamic Council of New Zealand said the sheikh was a leading scholar and renowned community leader, who never incited violence.

It said the Saudi regime was openly founding, funding and supporting extremism and violent ideologies and terrorist organizations, such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, throughout the world.

By IRNA