Nimr al-Nimr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nimr Baqir al-Nimr
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| نمر باقر النمر | |
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| Born | 21 June 1959 Al-Awamiyah, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
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| Died | 2 January 2016 (aged 56) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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| Cause of death | Execution |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | Terrorism Treason Sedition |
| Criminal charge | Firing at security forces Seeking 'foreign meddling Disobeying the ruler Inciting sectarian strife Encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations |
| Penalty | Death |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
| Denomination | Usuli Twelver Shia |
| School | Ja'fari jurisprudence |
| Education | Iran, Syria |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Sheikh Ayatollah |
| Predecessor | Post created |
| Successor | Unknown |
| Religious career | |
| Post | Friday Prayers leader, al-Awamiyah |
Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr (21 June 1959 – 2 January 2016), often called Sheikh Nimr, was a respected Shia religious leader from Al-Awamiyah in Saudi Arabia. He became well-known for speaking out against the Saudi Arabian government.
Sheikh Nimr was very popular, especially among young people. He believed in free elections in Saudi Arabia and called for more rights for the Shia community in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested several times by Saudi authorities for his views. In 2009, he even suggested that if Shia rights were not respected, the Eastern Province might want to become independent.
During the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests, Sheikh Nimr encouraged protesters to use "the roar of the word" instead of violence. This meant he wanted people to speak up peacefully against injustice. In July 2012, he was shot and arrested by police. His arrest led to large protests where two people were killed. He later went on a hunger strike in prison.
In 2014, Sheikh Nimr was sentenced to death. The charges included "disobeying" the rulers and "taking up arms" against security forces. Many believed these charges were related to his speeches and calls for reform. He was executed on January 2, 2016, along with 46 other people. His execution caused strong reactions and was condemned by many countries and human rights groups around the world.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nimr al-Nimr started his religious studies in his hometown of al-Awamiyah. To continue his education, he moved to Iran in 1980. There, he studied at the al-Qaim seminary in Tehran under important religious scholars.
Later, after the seminary in Iran closed, he moved to Damascus, Syria. He continued his religious learning there, following the teachings of respected Grand Ayatollahs.
Religious Work
By 2008, Sheikh Nimr had become an independent voice in the Shia community of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. He was not closely linked to the main political groups there.
Since 2008, he served as the leader of Friday prayers in al-Awamiyah. This role allowed him to share his views and connect with many people in his community.
His Beliefs and Views
Sheikh Nimr believed that governments should be run fairly. He supported the idea of elections so that people could choose their leaders. He thought that religious leaders should not promote violence or murder.
He openly criticized the rulers of Bahrain for stopping protests in 2011. He also spoke against Bashar Assad in Syria, saying that these leaders were "tyrants" and that oppressed people should not defend them.
In 2008, he mentioned that he saw people in the United States as natural allies of Shia Muslims. He believed both groups shared ideas based on "justice and liberty." However, he also said that countries like Iran acted mostly for their own benefit, not just for religious reasons. He wanted to show that he was independent from Iran.
Sheikh Nimr also strongly criticized Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was a powerful prince in Saudi Arabia. He made strong statements after Nayef's death in 2012, showing his deep disagreement with the government's policies.
How Popular He Was
In 2011, The Guardian newspaper said that Sheikh Nimr seemed to be the most popular Shia cleric among young people in Saudi Arabia. This popularity continued into 2012. After his arrest in July 2012, thousands of people protested in Qatif to support him.
Early Arrests
Saudi authorities arrested Sheikh Nimr for the first time in 2003. This was for leading public prayers in his village. He was also detained for a few days in 2004.
In 2006, he was arrested again and reportedly beaten during his detention. People in al-Awamiyah protested to support him, and he was released after a few days.
2009 Sermon and Arrest Order
In February 2009, there was an incident in Medina involving differences between Shia and Sunni customs. This led to protests by Shia Muslims and arrests.
Sheikh Nimr criticized the authorities for how they treated Shia Muslims. In a sermon, he said that if the dignity of his community was not respected, they would call for their region to become independent.
Because of this sermon, an arrest warrant was issued for him. Protests started in al-Awamiyah in March. Police tried to arrest him and even took his children hostage. By April 1, 35 people had been arrested, but Sheikh Nimr was not caught at that time. Human rights groups said that authorities were targeting him for speaking out against discrimination.
Protests, Arrest, and Death Sentence
2011–2012 Protests
During the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests, Sheikh Nimr spoke about young people protesting. He said they were provoked by police firing at them. He called for calm and said, "The [Saudi] authorities depend on bullets... We must depend on the roar of the word, on the words of justice." He meant that peaceful words were stronger than weapons.
July 2012 Arrest
On July 8, 2012, Sheikh Nimr was shot in the leg by police and arrested. Police said he and his companions fired at them, but his brother said he was arrested while driving.
Thousands of people protested his arrest. Two men were killed during these protests. Sheikh Nimr began a hunger strike in prison. His family visited him and expressed concern for his health. His wife, Muna Jabir al-Shariyavi, sadly passed away in a New York City hospital while he was in prison.
His Trial
Amnesty International stated that many of the charges against Sheikh Nimr were based on his sermons and interviews. They believed these were examples of his right to free speech and that he did not encourage violence. Amnesty also said that his trial was not fair, as witnesses did not appear in court and his lawyer could not properly defend him.
He faced 33 charges. His lawyers often struggled to get details of the charges or were not informed about court sessions.
October 2014 Death Sentence
On October 15, 2014, Sheikh Nimr was sentenced to death by a special court. The court said he was "seeking 'foreign meddling'," "disobeying" rulers, and "taking up arms" against security forces. Human rights groups saw this as an attempt to silence those who disagreed with the government.
His brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, was arrested on the same day for sharing news about the death sentence on Twitter.
2015 Appeal
In March 2015, a Saudi Arabian appeals court confirmed the death sentence. In October 2015, the Supreme Religious Court also rejected his appeal. His brother hoped that King Salman would pardon him.
Reactions to the Death Sentence
Many people and groups around the world protested against Sheikh Nimr's death sentence.
- In November 2014, Muslims from different countries protested outside the United Nations to call for his freedom.
- In March 2015, people in Kano, Nigeria, protested against his detention.
- In May 2015, important Shia religious leaders in Iran condemned the death sentence.
- Shia Muslims worldwide held peaceful rallies and sent petitions to the UNO to try and stop the execution.
- In December 2015, a group of Sunni clerics in Iran asked the United Nations to help free Sheikh Nimr.
Petitions from Groups
In November 2015, many human rights and religious freedom organizations asked the US Secretary of State to urge the King of Saudi Arabia to cancel Sheikh Nimr's death sentence. They also asked for the release of other young prisoners.
These groups included Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and PEN American Center, among others.
Execution and Reactions
On January 2, 2016, the Saudi Arabian government announced that Sheikh Nimr was among 47 prisoners who had been executed. The main charge against him was criticism of Saudi officials.
His execution led to protests in many countries, including Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the United Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia's Qatif region, people marched from his hometown, al-Awamiyah, to Qatif, chanting against the ruling family. Many religious and political leaders also spoke out against the execution.
Personal Life
Sheikh Nimr's nephew, Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr, was arrested in 2012 when he was 17 years old for taking part in protests. He was sentenced to death in 2014, but his sentence was later changed, and he was released from prison in 2021.
His wife, Muna Jabir al-Shariyavi, passed away in a hospital in New York City while he was in prison.
Sheikh Nimr's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, felt that US President Barack Obama should have done more to stop the execution.
In 2017, during unrest in Qatif, two of Sheikh Nimr's cousins were killed by Saudi security forces.
See also
- Human rights in Saudi Arabia
- Iran–Saudi Arabia relations
