IRGC: Execution of Sheikh Nimr Blatant Violation of Human Rights
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) strongly condemned Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, saying the barbaric move amounts to a blatant violation of human rights.
“The savage measure by the reactionary, medieval and terrorist-fostering Saudi regime in execution of Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr is a brazen violation of human rights and freedom,” the IRGC said in a statement on Saturday, hours after Riyadh announced that it has executed the Shiite cleric among 46 other people.
The statement also slammed the Saudi move as “part of a Zionist plot for intensification of division in the Islamic Ummah and (creation of) rift between the Shiite and Sunni Muslims.”
The IRGC underlined that “the hated Saudi regime” will undoubtedly have to pay the price for such a shameful action.
Saudi Arabia’s execution of Sheikh Nimr has drawn widespread international condemnation.
Among the 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday were four Shiite Muslims, including Sheikh Nimr, accused of shooting policemen during anti-government protests in recent years.
The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available in the kingdom's law.