Saudi man gets 15 years for Shia cleric support
Nimr and three others were among 47 people convicted of terrorism and executed in January
RIYADH:
A court in Riyadh has sentenced a Saudi national to 15 years in prison for supporting executed Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, local media reported on Thursday.
Nimr and three other members of the kingdom's minority Shia community were among 47 people convicted of terrorism and executed on a single day in January.
The executions provoked anger among Shias and concern in the West, and raised tensions between Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran.
Nimr was a driving force behind protests among Shias that began in 2011.
Saudi prince warns Iran against use of force
Those protests later developed into a call for equality in the kingdom where Shias, most of whom live in the kingdom's east, complain of marginalisation.
Al-Riyadh newspaper did not name the convicted man, who it said took part "in rallies and marches" in the Shia-dominated Gulf coast district of Qatif.
He was also convicted of "chanting anti-state slogans and sympathising with the deceased Nimr", as well as helping to block roads and burn tyres, it said.
Muslims should reconsider letting Saudis manage Hajj, holy sites: Khamenei
Among other accusations, the newspaper said he was willing to provide "the materials needed to make explosives" for attacks in the kingdom.
Nimr's Qatif-area hometown of Awamiya has been the scene of repeated security incidents since 2011.
After the protests started, police issued a list of 23 wanted people. Many suspects on that list have already been detained or killed in shootouts.
A court in Riyadh has sentenced a Saudi national to 15 years in prison for supporting executed Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, local media reported on Thursday.
Nimr and three other members of the kingdom's minority Shia community were among 47 people convicted of terrorism and executed on a single day in January.
The executions provoked anger among Shias and concern in the West, and raised tensions between Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran.
Nimr was a driving force behind protests among Shias that began in 2011.
Saudi prince warns Iran against use of force
Those protests later developed into a call for equality in the kingdom where Shias, most of whom live in the kingdom's east, complain of marginalisation.
Al-Riyadh newspaper did not name the convicted man, who it said took part "in rallies and marches" in the Shia-dominated Gulf coast district of Qatif.
He was also convicted of "chanting anti-state slogans and sympathising with the deceased Nimr", as well as helping to block roads and burn tyres, it said.
Muslims should reconsider letting Saudis manage Hajj, holy sites: Khamenei
Among other accusations, the newspaper said he was willing to provide "the materials needed to make explosives" for attacks in the kingdom.
Nimr's Qatif-area hometown of Awamiya has been the scene of repeated security incidents since 2011.
After the protests started, police issued a list of 23 wanted people. Many suspects on that list have already been detained or killed in shootouts.