Saudi Arabia executes 47, including Shiite cleric

Jan 2, 2016- Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said.

Given the fact that Saudi Arabia went ahead with multiple executions in defiance of a consensus amongst global human rights organizations that many of them rest on unsafe verdicts, it remains to be seen if the UN would reconsider Saudi Arabia's position on the UN Human Rights Council.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabia on Saturday announced the execution of 47 prisoners accused of terrorism charges, including a Shiite cleric who was a central figure in 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in the kingdom.

That did not prevent the Saudi interior ministry from accusing him of being behind attacks on police, alongside a group of other suspects it said were working on behalf of Shia Iran, the kingdom's main regional rival. Saudi state television also reported the executions.

Sheikh Nimr's death sentence was confirmed in October. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain suppress the uprising, fearing it would spread.

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