"Divine Vengeance Will Befall Saudi Arabia," Iran Warns, As Global Outcry Over Execution Grows
"The unjustly spilled blood of this oppressed martyr will no doubt soon show its effect and divine vengeance will befall Saudi politicians.”
That rather ominous quote is from Ayatollah Khamenei who was decidedly upset with Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The Sheikh - who died along with three other Shiites and dozens of suspected al-Qaeda operatives in the largest mass execution carried out by Riyadh in 25 years - was a leading voice in Saudi Arabia’s anti-government movement. He stood accused of sedition, disobedience and bearing arms for his role in the protests which shook the kingdom’s Eastern Province during the Arab Spring.
News of al-Nimr’s death spread through the Muslim world like wildfire on Saturday as protests broke out from Bahrain to Pakistan.
Here’s the sequence of events courtesy of The Guardian:
- Saudi Arabia announced it had executed 47 people for terrorism, including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
- Iranian government and religious leaders say killing of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr will have serious repercussions.
- The Shia cleric’s brother calls for calm.
- Protests in Bahrain turn violent and tear gas is used on those demonstrating.
- Protests break out in Shia areas of Saudi Arabia, Indian-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan while a prominent Iraqi cleric calls for demonstrations in Gulf countries.
- Reprieve, Human Rights Watch and various other campaign groups condemn the executions.
- Fresh concerns are raised for Nimr’s nephew, Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, despite his name not appearing on the executed list.
As the day wore on, the situation escalated in Tehran, reaching a crescendo when angry protesters stormed the Saudi embassy before ultimately firebombing the compound. We documented the drama as it unfolded (see here), but below, find a few more visuals from the scene:
President Hassan Rouhani condemned the attacks as the work of "extremist individuals" while Tehran's police chief confirmed that a number of "unruly elements" had been detained in connection with the ransacking of the embassy. That said, it's probably safe to say that no one in Iran was all that upset to see the building set ablaze as al-Nimr's execution was something of a direct slap in the face to the Shiite community writ large.
"Nimr, the most vocal critic of the dynasty among the Shi'ite minority, had come to be seen as a leader of the sect's younger activists, who had tired of the failure of older, more measured leaders to achieve equality with Sunnis," Reuters writes adding that al-Nimr's death "appeared to end any hopes that the appearance of a common enemy in the form of the Islamic State militant force would produce some rapprochement between the region's leading Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim powers, allied to opposing sides in wars currently raging in Syria and Yemen." Here's The New York Times:
Sheikh Nimr, said to be in his mid-50s, was from Awamiyah, a poor town surrounded by palm groves in eastern Saudi Arabia and known for opposition to the monarchy.
He studied in Iran and Syria, but rose to prominence for fiery sermons after his return in which he criticized the ruling family and called for Shiite empowerment, even suggesting that Shiites could secede from the kingdom.
This gained him a following mostly among young Shiites who felt discriminated against by Persian Gulf governments. When these young people joined Arab Spring protests in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011, Sheikh Nimr became a leading figure.
During a sermon in 2012, Sheikh Nimr mocked Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who had been the Saudi interior minister and had recently died.
“He will be eaten by worms and suffer the torments of hell in the grave,” Sheikh Nimr said. “The man who made us live in fear and terror; shouldn’t we rejoice at his death?”
Prince Nayef’s son, Mohammed bin Nayef, is now the crown prince and runs the Interior Ministry, which carries out death sentences.
The Saudi authorities arrested Sheikh Nimr in July 2012, while the kingdom was leading a regional push to end the pro-democratic activism of the Arab Spring. These efforts included sending tanks to prop up the Sunni monarchy in Bahrain, which faced protests led by the country’s Shiite majority. Shiites also protested in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province, where many Shiites live and complain of discrimination.
And here's a bit more color from Reuters:
Nimr, executed along with three other Shi'ites and dozens of al Qaeda members, is seen in Iran as the champion of a Shi'ite minority oppressed in Saudi Arabia, and Tehran had made clear that it saw the terrorism charges against him as fabricated.
Iran summoned the Saudi charge d'affaires in Tehran, accusing the kingdom of using terrorism as a pretext to suppress peaceful dissent among Shi'ites, who complain of systemic discrimination.
And the website of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, carried a picture of a Saudi executioner next to notorious Islamic State executioner 'Jihadi John', with the caption "Any differences?".
The fact that both Saudi Arabia and Iran face a powerful threat to their interests from the radical jihadist group, which has seized large parts of Syria and Iraq, appeared at the end of 2014 to be promoting a tentative reconciliation.
But since then, the political and economic tensions have been piling up.
Already backing opposing sides in Syria's civil war, they also found themselves backing rival groups in Saudi Arabia's impoverished neighbour Yemen, where Iran supports another minority Shi'ite group, the Houthis, who drove out the Saudi-backed government.
Economic rivalry has also come to the fore since Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers in July that Saudi Arabia had urged its long-standing ally and protector, the United States, to block.
Yes, no hope a "common enemy" in ISIS will "produce some rapproachement" between Sunni and Shiite powers. Of course it also didn't help that the Saudis left Shiite Iran and Shiite Iraq out of a new, 34-nation anti-terror "coalition", nor does it help that Riyadh promotes and promulgates the very same ideology as that espoused by ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Iraq - which, as we've documented extensively, is for all intents and purposes an Iranian colony - was displeased as well. Here's Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani: "We have received with much sorrow and regret the news of the martyrdom of a number of our brother believers in the region whose pure blood was shed in an unjust aggression." And here's PM Haider Abadi:
I'm shocked & saddened at Sheikh Nimr's execution by Saudi authorities. Peaceful opposition is a fundamental right. Repression does not last
— Haider Al-Abadi (@HaiderAlAbadi) January 2, 2016
On Sunday, the protests continued as hundreds gathered in front of the charred Saudi embassy in Tehran while protesters also massed at the UN building and Riyadh's embassy in Beirut ahead of a speech by Hassan Nasrallah. As AP reports, "the road the embassy sits on in northern Tehran saw a new street sign come up in recent hours. Instead of saying "Boustan" or "park" in Farsi, it now reads "Sheikh Nimr St." in honor of the Shiite cleric that Saudi Arabia executed on Saturday."
Police forces pushing back protesters near Saudi embassy. Tehran, Iran pic.twitter.com/5yy1dWFLcl
— Ibn Arey (@iislamic32) January 3, 2016
So, to the extent Riyadh thought the execution of a few dozen purported al-Qaeda operatives would prove that the kingdom is serious about fighting the very same type of extremism it promotes, the exact opposite has occurred. That is, the executions have simply provided further evidence that the Saudis, like Islamic State, have no qualms about beheading "criminals" without any semblance of due process.
"Nimr's execution risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced," the US State Department said of the Sheikh's death. While that is most assuredly an accurate assessment, the idea that Washington is concerned about fanning the flames of sectarian violence is laughable. Recall the following excerpt from a leaked diplomatic cable outlining what America's strategy should be in Syria:
PLAY ON SUNNI FEARS OF IRANIAN INFLUENCE: There are fears in Syria that the Iranians are active in both Shia proselytizing and conversion of, mostly poor, Sunnis. Though often exaggerated, such fears reflect an element of the Sunni community in Syria that is increasingly upset by and focused on the spread of Iranian influence in their country through activities ranging from mosque construction to business. Both the local Egyptian and Saudi missions here, (as well as prominent Syrian Sunni religious leaders), are giving increasing attention to the matter and we should coordinate more closely with their governments on ways to better publicize and focus regional attention on the issue.
Finally, we would note once again that just about the last thing the Saudis need is a Shiite uprising just as a move to cut subsidies on everything from fuel to water threatens to destabilize a populace that's become accustomed to a relatively comfortable way of life under the oil-rich monarchy.
We close with the following image which appeared on the Ayatollah's webpage:
* * *
Full statement from Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, at the start of his course to clerics at the post-jurisprudence level on Sunday morning, strongly condemned Saudi Arabia’s major crime in martyring the pious and innocent scholar, Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. Underscoring the necessity for the international community to feel responsibility vis-à-vis this crime and similar crimes committed by the Saudi regime in Yemen and Bahrain, Ayatollah Khamenei noted: “Doubtlessly, this innocent martyr’s blood, which was spilled unjustly, will quickly show its effect and the divine vengeance will befall the Saudi politicians.”
Ayatollah Khamenei added: “This innocent scholar had neither incited people to take up arms nor had he hatched any covert plot, and the only activity he did was open criticism [of the Saudi regime] and ordering good and prohibiting vice, which stemmed from his religious zeal and fervor.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described Sheikh Nimr’s martyrdom and the unjust spilling of his blood as a political mistake made by the Saudi government, saying: “The Almighty God shall not ignore the innocents’ blood and the unjustly spilled blood will backfire on the politicians and the executives of this regime very quickly.”
Strongly criticizing the silence of the self-proclaimed advocates of freedom, democracy and human rights, and their support for the Saudi regime, who spills the blood of the innocent only for criticism and protest, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Muslim world and the entire world must feel responsible towards this issue.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also mentioned the harassment and torture of Bahraini people by the Saudi military forces and the destruction of their houses and mosques as well as more than 10 months of bombing of the Yemeni civilians as other examples of the Saudi regime’s crimes, noting: “Those who honestly care for the future of humanity and the fate of human rights and justice must pursue these issues and should not remain indifferent vis-à-vis this situation.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also stated: “Definitely, Martyr Sheikh Nimr will avail himself of the Grace of God and without a doubt the divine vengeance will befall the oppressors, who encroached upon his life and this is the same thing that will be a cause of consolation.”
(11 votes)
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Most certainly Bush is lying about hearing a message from anyone but on the slight chance he is telling the truth what freakin demon are all of these schiophrenics who are calling for constant war talking to?
I don't know about you guys but if one day I started hearing voices telling me to kill people I'm pretty sure I would run my ass to the doctor. Apparently they choose to believe it is God and comply.
Wow: hearing voices, like Bush II says is a classic symptom of schizophrenia
WE all agree.
No reason at all that schizophrenia can't be overlaid on psychopathy, or mental sub normality,or
any other complaint..
Often is, in fact.Makes diagnosis difficult.
This reaction should come as no surprise to the Saudis. They had to know something like this would happen.
"while protesters also massed at the UN building and Riyadh's embassy in Beirut ahead of a speech by Hassan Nasrallah."
Every cloud has a silver lining...
So it was a personal feud/retribution. Not good to let personal matters lead State decisions. I wrote last night they should have just expelled him. He would have gone to Iran, Iraq, or even Pakistan.
***
The current Leadership in the Kingdom is of vastly inferior quality to the more pragmatic former King. These guys are going to bring a Revolution and Black Gold is gonna go up!
Long oil!. Bulli$h bitchezz!
Forget about Saudi Arabia. What about the ongoing terrorist operation in Oregon. Where are the drones, tanks, armored peace officers? This brutal act of treasonous terrorism should be dealt with swiftly like other situations in the United States. Or is there a double standard with regard to race and ethnicity? Hmmmmm? Fuck it. I don't care what those strokers do with a federal building. I just wish our force application was consistent.
"There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people." - Commander Adama, Battlestar Galactica
One bunch imposes the will of the psychopaths running the place in parts foreign.
The other does likewise at home.
+1000.
That may have been a TV show, but that script was an expression of Truth.
Olmos is also a great actor. I met him once in Denver, a very polite and professional guy.
He was also great in Miami Vice, as the former secret squirrel/Chief of detectives.
The only "double standard" in the Oregon situation is double jeapordy, the Hammonds already did the sentence and were released, they are now being told by your enevolent federal government to report back to prison for some moar jail time because they are "terrorists" (lol)...over a fucking grass fire.
http://www.dontcomply.com/civil-unrest-militia-alert-government-attempts...
Won't argue that the situation is seriously fucked. Adding jail time to a sentence is cruel and unjust. However, these men have taken up arms against the U.S. Federal government twice now and have not even received a disorderly conduct citation. I agree that we should allow peaceful civil disobedience, but others in this country are not allowed such freedoms in 2016.
So when the federal government becomes cruel & unjust, people are just supposed to do what...make up placards, shout slogans and stage sit-in's to be peacefully hosed down with pepper spray and arrested?
Hey man. I'm a live and let live kinda cat. If these fellas are that passionate, why don't they start shooting and get started with this revolution they've been talking about for 20 years. I mean, Obama is taking away our guns next week right? I'm not calling them terrorists. The Feds label any dissent terrorism and exercise extreme prejudice against the offenders. Not cool at all for any Americans to be treated that way.
Bangin7,
What I see as the "missing link" in all of this type of shit, is that in our Constitutional Republic, the Individual is the Highest Level of Being.
These people (and many before them, AKA Ruby Ridge, Waco) have not taken up arms against their Govt, but rather, they have taken up arms FOR their Inalienable, God Given Rights that are supposed to by protected and preserved by said Govt.
It's like jumping in the water with hungry sharks and trying to convince them that you are only there to study their mating habits and please don't eat me. I say to you, good luck with that!
I prefer the analogy of "two wolves and a sheep" voting on what's for dinner.
Only in this case, the sheep is armed...
That's the difference between a Democracy, and a Constitutional Republic.
Yeah well, when "the law" is equally applied to the likes of Jon Corzine (for theft) and George Soros (for inciting riots) and Eric Holder (for international gun smuggling) and Hillary Clinton (for multiple violations of US Code regarding state secrets)...and don't get me started on ObamaCare handouts to "Big Insurance" CEO's perhaps then, we can have another discussion about "law" and how "just" it really is.
No doubt!
;-)
Article VI US Constitution:
This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
Short Version: all law and treaties have to be pursuant to the Constitution. The Patriot Act, NDAA, all gun laws and probably 98% of everything passed since 1913 are unconstitutional. All branches of constitutional government have been captured by the central bank and international corporations.
I am at a complete loss as to how to reverse a situation like this peacefully. The reason for all these terrorism laws is they are aware some dissent will occur during the final takeover. They intend to prosecute these dissenters under the unconstitutional terrorism laws and most of the sheep,,, especially those receiving welfare, Section 8 and EBT, will happily go along with the charade until their turn comes.
It is indeed a conundrum. Heads they win,,, tails we lose?
"So when the federal government becomes cruel & unjust, people are just supposed to do what.."?
Physically fight back and die is one option.
The other is the courtroom; juries have the power to put a "cruel and unjust" government in it's place.
Ha Ha! That's a good one.
F.B.
Look up Jury Nullification. Then look up the guy that was arrested for handing out flyers, educating people about Jury Nullification.
I could write a book about my family's 4 year court battle, where a woman and child were tazed and beat down for walking their Miniature Schnauzer within spitting distance of their own home.
The Federal Courts have been stacked for a long time and it's getting worse.
It's hard to tell what's really going on over there. The Feds say the Hammonds set fires to cover up poaching. The Hammonds say something else. It's gotten to the point where peaceful civil disobedience doesn't amount to shit.
The simple fact they went after them AGAIN under "federal terrorism laws" tell's me not to trust a damned thing the federal government say's.
They are simply not terrorists, they're ranchers. Ranchers burn dead grass to get rid of weeds and promote new growth. And it wasn't arson anyways arson involves criminal intent, the BLM itself burns hundreds of thousands of acres per year.
All of it's complete & utter bullshit.
I agree and side with the ranchers. Remember the spin on Randy Weaver was that he was paranoid, etc. Well, his wife ended up getting shot in the face and killed by FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi. There were a bunch of manslaughter charges on the guy, but I'm pretty sure not guilty, naturally.
I'll never forget that filthy pig Chris Dodd complainig congress was wasting time on something "stupid" like "Rudy Ridge". I bet Tyler puts this story up today.
US Declaration of Independence.
"...Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --"
From what I can discern this present government has declared an open hostility to it's Citizens and to the Constitution which limits its authority. Congress, the Judicial and the Executive openly mocks both. Why? One can only guess but my guess is the government is now controlled by international corporations that want complete ownership of all resources.
When governments go up against their staunchest supporters, in this case Ranchers and Cowboys" then you know somebody is out of control. Once they obtain gun control it will be Katy bar the door,,, Game Over.
I will bet anything that the screaming fanatics you see in these Muslim outrage scenes know nothing about the Qur’an or Hadith--the holy writings of Islam...just mindless morons. "Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest."
Have you the following excerpts from ISlam's holy books in mind?
"Slay the unbelievers wherever you find them.” Qur’an 2:191
“Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.” Qur’an 9:123
“When opportunity arises, kill the infidels wherever you catch them.” Qur’an 9:5
“Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.” Qur’an 3:85
“The Jews and the Christians are perverts; fight them.”... Qur’an 9:30
“Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam” Qur’an 5:33
“Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water;melt their skin and bellies.” Qur’an22:19
“The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.” Qur’an 8:65
“Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.” Qur’an 3:28
“Terrorize and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Qur’an.”Qur’an 8:12
"Part of a plan it is" yoda somebody
Not religious but in this case I hope divine vengeance actually exists. What a bunch of midevil butchers.
The Religion of Peace of starting the new year with quite the Hug-Fest.
Hung-Fest actually
OT - Amond Bundy and other armed militia occupy Malheur Wildlife Sanctuary in Oregon. Hope they all stay safe. When does America get Divine Justice?
Bring in the goats! Stat!
Saudi will be chicken shit calling for US to protect them. If they call for *Divine Vengenace*, does it mean they will actually go for the people/organisation responsible for it or random bombings and shootings?
As usual that's what we're waiting for: to be "called in". Kuwait redux. 10, 9, 8,....
At this rate the Middle East could be cleared of the riff raff in another 29 years.., keep up the good work.
Time to buy some oil stocks?
Iran go level Saudi
Another one of America's Besties being Beasts.
We have such great and evil friends.
Haha.
"Fuck those Shites. I'm the King! What can they do about it?"
This is gonna get nasty.
I think back to how it took decades to build up to the last two world wars and wonder: did they have "doomers" back then who noticed the buildup in tensions, and who knew that these would eventually break? Or did it come as a surprise to the majority of citizens around the world and in the affected countries?
Are we seeing the first sparks fly? Are we witnessing assassinations/executions which foster enough of an outcry so as to create permanent resentment among populations? Are we seeing ultimatums and counter ultimatums? Incursions and "expeditions" turned into full fledged invasions?
Only had Newspaper and radio. The US and it's partners had an open court to do whatever they pleased so while the war in Europe was a no brainer, Japans attack was a surprise, to the American People. The US desperately wanted in WWII (as bad as it did WWI) but the problem then was Americans wanted nothing to do with another war. Governments only choice was to force an attack on the US directly. They're story is they expected the Japs to attack the Philippines but Pearl Harbor was chosen instead. The fact that all ships necessary for US to prosecute a war were conveniently at sea is the smoking gun. Most of the destroyed ships at Pearl did not affect the Pacific strength of the US significantly as it was already weak to begin with. And as usual the US government wasn't concerned with the blood spilled and as expected, they got their war. Since Japan was allied with Germany, once the US declared war on Japan, Germany had no choice but to declare war an the US per the Tripartite agreement.
The Pearl Harbor event worked out so well that it was used again in 2001 per the PNAC papers. With the advent of the internet this has been much harder to accomplish which is why they feverishly worked to get internet control laws on the books. An informed population is difficult to hoodwink. The recent attempt to bomb Syria and possibly start a war with Russia was met with such pushback from informed citizens of the world that the PTB backed down. The result,,, CISPA passed in 2012 and recently CISA was passed by our war loving government in an effort to control the masses source of information.
War is serious money, the lives spent not so much. Always has been,,, always will be.
+100
If not "doomers", they certainly had CIA operatives fomenting it.
"Mr. Hitler has declared war on the international bankers. And in so doing has signed his own death warrant."
Winston Churchill, 1935