A local court in Saudi Arabia has reportedly pronounced a death sentence to Sheikh Nimr-al-Nimr, a well-known Shiite cleric.
The Sheikh’s brother announced the verdict on Twitter on Wednesday. He also said that the family would release a statement with more details.
Shiite activist Jaafar al-Shayeb in eastern Saudi Arabia says the verdict appears to have been handed down for criminal offences over the incitement of Shiite protests in Saudi Arabia and neighboring Bahrain.
He says there is concern that the death sentence of the revered 54-year-old cleric will spark anger and renewed protests by the minority Shiites.