Stop the judicial murder of Saudi dissident scholar Sheikh Nimr – by Ali Abbas Taj
Sheikh Nimr is being executed for peacefully speaking and demanding the rights of the people of the Eastern Province. The world community and in particular, the United States Administration is under pressure from powerful stealthy lobbies to ignore the human rights violations occurring in the Wahhabi theocracy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the US must stop the execution of Sheikh Nimr and send a message to our allies that we expect better from them – otherwise our international credibility will be dented. Saudi prosecutors want to literally crucify Sheikh Nimr – how can anyone of conscience accept this.
The charges against Sheikh Nimr are trumped up and are clearly contradicted by his unambiguous and public stance of eschewing violence. In his interviews to the media (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29627766), Sheikh Nimr has been very clear
“the weapon of the word is stronger than bullets”
Conscientious citizens living in the 21st century, who reject the atrocious notion that dissident voices need to be executed, need to pressure the Saudi government to immediately release rights activist and dissident scholar, Sheikh Nimr. Saudi Arabia happens to be one of our major and oldest allies but unfortunately its human rights record dents our own credibility by association. Specifically, the manner of the trial against Sheikh Nimr after he was shot, arrested and held without charges for nearly a year are a shocking reminder of the sad state of human rights in the Wahabi Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At a time when our own allies like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey are funding and providing logistical support to groups like ISIS that settle differences with beheadings, bombings and rape the muslim world needs voices like Sheikh Nimr. The muslim world needs voices that eschew violence and articulate protest.
Sheikh Nimr’s trial was a farce and the charges against him contradicted his own clear and unambiguous public statements that called for peaceful protests.
If we fail to put pressure on our own allies to stop their repressive and violent tactics against dissent, we erode our own credibility within the world community. Sheikh Nimr has become a symbol of peaceful protest within the very country we hold as one of our closest allies. He needs your pressure to save his life and send a powerful message to the world community that the “The Weapon of the word is strong than bullets”
FOR UNITED STATES – BASED SUPPORTERS |
FOR SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE UNITED STATES |
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For background on Sheikh Nimr, refer to SOS from Saudi Arabia: Rights activist and dissident Sheikh Nimr facing execution and Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr ‘sentenced to death’
https://www.change.org/p/the-king-abdullah-of-saudi-arabia-release-sheikh-nimr-al-nimr-immediately
Muslim Organisations in the UK Issue a Joint Statement on the Death Sentence Against Ayatollah al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia
We are extremely alarmed about the recent death sentence which has been passed against Ayatollah Nimr Baqir al-Nimr as reported by the media for “sowing discord” and “undermining national unity”. Ayatollah al-Nimr is a respected Muslim figure in Saudi Arabia. He is a faith leader, reformist and human rights activist, who has long campaigned for an end to discriminatory laws against the Shia minority population of the country. This sentence follows a lengthy two year detention in a Saudi prison, which has sparked outrage, not only from the Muslim community but also from the international human rights organisations. We strongly believe that the sentencing of Ayatollah Nimr as a leader of the minority Shia community will further inflame sectarian tensions and provide encouragement to extremist groups such as ISIS to continue their persecution of religious minorities.
Therefore, we strongly expect the government of Saudi Arabia to act with responsibility and refrain from implementing the death sentence of Ayatollah al-Nimr. We ask the government of Saudi Arabia to consider the negative and detrimental impact that any sentence of Ayatollah al-Nimr will have to their national image and demand that Ayatollah al-Nimr is released. We implore the government of Saudi Arabia to behave as a responsible role model to both Muslims and Muslim governments around the world.
Signed by:
Al-Khoei Foundation
AlulBayt Foundation
British Muslim Forum
Council of European Jamaats
Imamsonline
Islamic Centre of England
London Fatwa Council
Majlis-e-ulama Shia
Mecca Mosque Leeds
Radical Middle Way
World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities
Petitioning Saudi Government, Pakistan government
Quash death sentence against Saudi activist and dissident Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr
PETITION
We the concerned citizens of Pakistan denounce the verdict of a Saudi court imposing death penalty on rights activist and dissident scholar Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr and call on the Saudi authorities to quash the sentence and give him a fair trial.
Sheikh Nimr was sentenced to death on October 15, 2014 by The Specialized Criminal Court (Saudi Arabia’s counter terrorism tribunal) on multiple charges of “disobeying the ruler”, “breaking allegiance with the ruler,” “inciting sectarian strife,” “delivering anti-government speeches,” “provoking anti-government demonstrations” and “interfering in the affairs of a sisterly nation (Bahrain)”.
The exact nature of charges against Nimr, however, remains unclear.
Sheikh Nimr was detained in July 2012 after backing mass pro-democracy protests that erupted in February 2011 in the Qatif district of eastern Saudi Arabia. About twenty people were killed during the 2011-12 protests in Qatif and Awamiyah, while over 1000 protesters including children were detained. Two hundred and eighty people are still in jails, at least five of them have been sentenced to death.
Nimr, who suffered bullet injuries during his arrest by Saudi law enforcement agencies, was denied medical treatment during his detention.
Procedural irregularities and lack of transparency in Nimr’s trial make mockery of justice and violate international law. With Saudi judiciary known for its bias in favour of the royal family, the jury that convicted Nimr failed to meet the minimum standards for independence and impartiality.
International law requires that, in cases of capital punishment, trials must meet the highest standards of fairness and due process.
Nimr had been fighting for the rights for Saudi minorities particularly the Shia community.
The sentencing reflects the repressive policy of the Saudi regime towards political opponents and religious minorities. It’s a proof that Saudi authorities do not allow free expression and peaceful struggle for attainment of legitimate rights.
Nimr’s brother Mohammad al-Nimr has also been detained after tweeting about his (Baqir al-Nimr) sentencing. Mohammad’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Furthermore, it is feared that the death penalty after a trial lacking fairness would undermine the prospects of reconciliation within Saudi Arabia and would hurt sectarian harmony in Muslim societies across the world.
Meanwhile, we appeal to Pakistan government to use its good offices to demand of the Saudi monarchy to overturn Nimr’s death sentence and release him.
http://www.change.org/p/saudi-government-pakistan-government-quash-death-sentence-against-saudi-activist-and-dissident-sheikh-nimr-baqir-al-nimr
یہ مولوی سعودیہ میں جمہوریت لانا چاہتا ہے . ایران بھی سعودیہ میں جمہوریت چاہتا ھے
اس سزایے موت کی قیمت پاکستان چکائیگا کیونکہ سعودیہ پاکستان میں اپنے ایجنٹ یعنی لشکر جھنگوی وغیرہ
کو اشارہ کریگا کہ وہ ایرانی بارڈر پے جنگ تشکیل دیدیں . لشکر جھنگوی آرام سے کچھ ایرانی فوجیوں پر حملہ کر کے بارڈر پے تناو پیدہ کردیگی . یاد رھے کہ لشکر جھنگوی کے پاس پاکستانی آرمی کی یونیفارم خوب موجود ھیں . وہ پاکستانی آرمی کی یونیفارم پہن کر
ایران پر حملہ کرینگے
ایرانی فوجی جوابی کاروائی ضرور کرینگے جس کو پاکستانی میڈیا ایرانی حملہ کے طور پے پیش کریگا . بعد میں پاکستانی حکومت بھی شامل جنگ ہو ہی جائیگی.
ایران پاکستان جنگ میں امریکہ اور اسرائیل کا بڑا فائدہ ہوگا . دونوں کے ایٹمی ہتھیاروں پر پابندی لگانے کا بہانہ مل سکےگا . کچھ پاکستانی جہادی جنگجووں کو اپنے جوہر دکھانے کا موقع تو مل جائیگا .
مگر آخر میں ان سمیت سب کا نقصان ہی ہوگا. جہادی زیادہ سمجھ بوجھ نہیں رکھتے جب ہی امریکہ ان کا استعمال مذہب کے نام پر سعودیہ کے سہارے کر ہی لیتا ہے. سعودی بادشاہی خاندان کو اپنی بادشاہت پیاری ہے
اور امریکہ کو اسرائیل کی بقا پیاری ہے. اب یہ دونوں پیارے مقاصد ایک ساتھ حل ہو جائینگے
اگر لشکر جھنگوی پاکستان اور ایران کی جنگ لگانے میں کامیاب ہوجاتی ہے