Ahlul Bayt News Agency - On Friday, people in the city of Awamiyah in the oil-rich Eastern Province poured out onto the streets to call on Saudi authorities to immediately release the highly-revered Shiite cleric, who has been in prison for over three years.
The angry protesters also denounced the ongoing imprisonment of Sheikh al-Nimr and other political prisoners.
The protesters also carried placards of al-Nimr and chanted slogans against the rule of Al Saud dynasty.
The cleric was attacked and arrested in Qatif in July 2012, and has been charged with disturbing the kingdom’s security, making anti-government speeches, and defending political prisoners.
Sheikh al-Nimr had often publicly spoken against rampant corruption and discrimination commonly practiced by Saudi authorities.
A Saudi court had earlier sentenced Sheikh Nimr to death, triggering international outrage, particularly among Shiite communities.
Protesters have staged rallies worldwide to condemn the death sentence handed down to Sheikh Nimr, and have voiced solidarity with the dissident Saudi religious scholar.
There have been numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province since 2011, with the protestors calling for political reform and an end to widespread discrimination. Several people have been killed and many others have been injured or arrested during the demonstrations.
The Persian Gulf monarchy has come under fire from international human rights organizations, which have criticized it for failing to address the rights situation in the kingdom. Critics say the country shows zero-tolerance toward dissent.
In January, Joe Stork, the deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division for Human Right Watch, slammed Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on activists in the kingdom.
"Saudi Arabia should free imprisoned activists and take other concrete, visible steps to show the government is willing to improve its abysmal rights record," Stork said.
Stork also questioned the election of Saudi Arabia as a member of the Human Rights Council in November last year, saying that Riyadh has a record of repression and its membership is not warranted.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy that does not allow any election.
