May 22, 2013
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Description
Nimr Baqr al-Nimr is an independent Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. He is popular among youth and critical of the Saudi Arabian government. He claimed that he was beaten by Mabahith when arrested in 2006. In 2009, he criticised Saudi authorities and suggested secession of the Eastern Province if Saudi Shias' rights were not better respected. A warrant for his arrest was issued and 35 people were arrested. During the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr called for protestors to resist police bullets using "the roar of the word" rather than violence, predicted the overthrow of the government if repression continued, and was seen by The Guardian as having "taken the lead in [the] uprising".
On 8 July 2012 al-Nimr was shot by police in the leg and arrested, in what police described as an exchange of gunfire. Thousands of people protested in response in several protests in which two men, Akbar al-Shakhouri and Mohamed al-Felfel, were killed by police bullets. Al-Nimr started a hunger strike and appeared to have been tortured. The Asharq Center for Human Rights expressed concern for al-Nimr's health during his hunger strike on 21 August, calling for international support to allow access by family, lawyer and human rights activists.
(via Freebase)
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![Tens of thousands of Saudis mourn protestors killed in crackdown on opposition [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-11429000/11429507/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=41ab9fbb720de5cb69f6d9eeace50fc7)
![Amnesty International calls on Bahrain to free prisoners of conscience after 'travesty of justice' [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-8591000/8591355/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=336ec2add37d761c88b3405e1aedd5c8)
![Saudi protestors call for release of political prisoners [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-8281000/8281726/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=ae809e4564e55a4345d033a8b219d1df)
![Saudi forces fire live rounds at demonstrators in al-Qatif [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-7925000/7925445/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=7a950027c220d830577294856926318c "A protester holds up a picture of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a rally at the coastal town of Qatif, against Sheikh Nimr's arrest July 8, 2012: REUTERS/Stringer")
![Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province holds candlelight vigil for protests' martyrs [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-7510000/7510487/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=0ec3a1a6ae347f97de3302e245608071)
![Saudi Arabia's jailed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on hunger strike [Al-Forat TV, Iraq]](/images/image_cache/base-7349000/7349035/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=38ff9ba4636342ec1e76a5fad52ff9d2)
![Protests in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to demand release of Shia cleric [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-7163000/7163485/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=0dafe929d384f4886fe58af9e95dc35e)
![Tens of thousands of Saudi protestors demand release of prominent cleric al-Nimr [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-7018000/7018221/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=2da024d06f796ea92adadfb6d309e014)
![Bahraini activists rally in solidarity with Saudi protestors [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-6969000/6969297/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=0ef1005d9bf0b22a3ddbba816d01e078)
![Saudi security forces surround Eastern Province to prevent protests [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-6924000/6924909/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=78307c4d99546f5891e72a6fcab88826)