Ali Nimr who Awaits Execution in a Saudi Prison
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Saudi government remains unmoved even as
the outrage over the execution of cleric Sheikh Baqar al Nimr continues to rock
the world. Instead of showing any regard to world
opinion, it did one more grave injustice to Nimr family by secretly burying
Sheikh at an undisclosed location. Further, they also summoned Iranian envoy to
register protest over the condemnation of execution by authorities in Tehran. Saudi
officials told the envoy that the statements issued by Iranian leaders amounted
to interference in the internal matters of the kingdom.
The rigidity and scant regard exhibited
by Saudi government to the criticism that the execution evoked gives reason to
believe that there is imminent danger to the life of Sheikh’s nephew Ali al-Nimr
as well. He was just 17 when the police picked him up on the charge of participating
in anti-government demonstrations. His name did not figure in the list of 47
persons executed on January 2, 2016.But the way Riyadh has been behaving after
carrying out mass execution in defiance of international appeals; the concern
for Ali has grown alarmingly. Saudi regime does not hesitate in executing even
those arrested as teenagers. Of the 47 persons executed on Saturday, two were in
early twenties.
Protesters in Qatif (Eastern Saudi Arabia )
Saudi authorities reportedly told the
brother of Sheikh about his secret burial even as Nimr family was making
arrangement of his funeral at Imam Hussain Mosque in the village Al-Awamiya
,where sheikh used to pray. The secret burial indicates that the regime is apprehensive
of dead Sheikh and buried him secretly to deprive his thousands of admirers who
would have surely attended his funeral. By adopting a rigid posture that
government wants to mount pressure on the minority community of the kingdom to
refrain from adopting anti- regime protests. They have not executed Ali to send
message that regime might execute him as well if residents of Qatif, traditional
strong hold of Sheikh Nimr, sustained their campaign against execution and
showed any dissent.
Under the situation, it is incumbent upon
United Nations, Human Right organizations and all the governments against capital
punishment to raise voice to pressurize Saudi regime to spare the life of Ali. He was arrested in
February 2012, sentenced to death in May 2014, and awaits ratification of his
sentence by King Salman. His trial was dubbed as unfair by United Nations
expert Christof Heynes and Amnesty international. French President
and Prime Minister have
also urged the Saudi government to stop his execution. His mother has already written
an emotional letter to the Independent newspaper, seeking help from everyone
for the life of his son. Now it is the duty of the civilized world to respond
to the desperate call of a hapless mother. There is no need to remind that Ali
had just participated in a demonstration. He did not kill anyone or resorted to
any violent act. The police had picked up juvenile Ali while he was returning
home on a bi-cycle. Since then, he is languishing in death cell. (Photo Courtesy Google Images )
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