"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.”
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I knew 2016 was gonna be a good year...burning Saudi embassies and a spark of revolution in Oregon...talk about starting with a bang...
Interesting that even US has opened its mouth to say something. though not much.
Oil is more powerful than democratic freedom rights. at least in Saudi Arabia.
Syrian Assad shoudl learn and start working with US. He can than kill his people without worrying about western hypocrits coming after his ass.
Why are the Saudis inciting a situation like this when they already seem to be engaged in more than they can handle, they can barely keep their own from uprising and have destroyed their own source of revenue? They are displaying mass murder internationally in a completely suicidal fashion which has zero benefit to their interests. Obviously they want conflict but how do they figure they're going to be able to survive what is coming in their current state?
If they bite off more than they can chew and the entire ME lights on fire a good deal of the Israelis and Saudis may end up over here when their countries fall so we probably shouldn't celebrate too much.
More Israelis come over here?
One can only hope they have several thousand "boating accidents" on the way over.
Their mindset is completely different than that. They don't fear blowback. It's all about keeping up appearances; not looking weak. In this culture any compromise is seen as a weakness to be pushed upon.
It doesn't occur to them that kindness and compromise can come from the strong. Just wait until the Uero conservative awakes.
Quite correct. It's an attitude very prevalent in the Arab world.
Saudi 'Royal' family making enemies across the world again, more of this will expose them as the sick fucks they truly are.
'Royal' family in that they happened to be the cockcroaches under the rock at the time.
moved.
Did Duncan MacLeod make it through to the next round?
I love raghead on raghead violence. The US should get a clue, all those camel humpers like to do is kill each other. It's how you control the population in a sand world with no water. It's about religon so you know there is no talking to them. Just stand back and let the fuckers wipe each other out.
Get the fuck out of the Mid East
roadhazard 101
The Oregon situation is extremely interesting......what will the white house do...?
Surely these men more than meet Obamas test to be a threat to US national security and should therefore....if he's consistent....be subject to immediate extrajudicial killing via a drone mounted hellfire...
But I don't think that would play well...even amongst the zombie hoard..
But doing nothing is also not an option....
What's that saying about a revolution only requiring a small but determined minority again...?
I was suspicious of that situation at first but those men are being intelligent about their comments and are not calling for violence. They seem to be simply trying to make a point and hold their ground, it all seems pretty legit.
I wouldn't be surprised if some other contrived situation pops up with guys wearing cowboy hats somewhere just so that the sheeple get the idea that when any rural people rebel they are just ignorant and violent rednecks that should be opposed.
Yep,
What I am wondering is why ZH hasn't mentioned it yet...I know it's Sunday but I think the story deserves a mention...certainly more newsworthy than rail car loadings..
Not criticizing....just wondering is all...
Government will incite them. Being "legal gun owners" and coinciding with Obamas EO on guns this week, it'll be a great PR piece to have a couple fed agents lose their lives to further the cause towards "the great gun grab"
How much you wanna bet there are at least a half dozen fed agents undercover, or some doped up patsy to make sure something happens
Wikipedia is calling it the Malheir Incident
incident is a very interested word to characterize the situation
Please make note that the local militia is defined as to common law, remember the ride done by Paul Revere. Concord was the county seat. If you can not understand this, do not comment. These boys should have the backing of the local Court. The American Revolution was Court supported by the land warrants and the Stamp Act was to repeal those. Every good judge has his venue in mind every time he make a ruling.
You know, if they spent less time beheading their citizens and bombing civilians in Yemen and more time arming the moderate rebels in Syria... oh never mind.
When are you Americans going to stop funding this shit and stop pitting sect against sect in the ME? I thought you were broke! When are you guys going to stop promoting murder and mayem around the world because of your exceptionalism and self perceived right to rule the world? When are you guys going to focus on cleaning up your own act at home before dictating to others how they should live their lives? When are you guys going to stop arming all these countrys that you then say they are all fighting each other because they are all savages and sand niggers? When is enough is enough already?
I'm not talking about your Government, i'm talking to you..the American people. Your sorry assed excuse that it's all your criminal cabal Governments fault is wearing thin.
GET OFF YOUR FUCKING ASS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY!
Are you just another guy waiting for someone else to act or what are you doing?
Your anger, though justified and understandable, is misdirected...
May I inquire as to what passport you have sitting in your important documents drawer...?
When getting off your ass to tango with a laser that will liquify you as papaboosh trialed in Panama, perhaps you can give guidance, eh?
America will never be broke as long as the world accepts the Fed's make-up money.
Nuts gonna kill nuts, no outside help needed. Keeping them in their own playhouse is the name of the game. Best case, moderate sane muslims can pick up the pieces when the really bloodthirsty are dead. Or maybe they'll figure out how screwed up their belief system really is and trade up.
An image is worth a thousand words. Lady Karma is the one making the decisions here whether Iran knows it or not:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CXzn3T4WwAAHQ7h.png:large
I sleep well at night knowing .gov's got my back. Quack quack!
Can't wait until these guys run out of oil.
"...his son will also drive a mercedes, but his son will ride a camel...
Send in the refugees!
(Many migrant workers are already there...)
The brutality of tptb always lead back to the same source.
I've listened to perspectives from Iraqi, Iranian & Syrian natives that lived together in peace before our more amiable puppets were installed. Yes, and peacefully with Christians too.
Now if this part of the world in flames isn't enough, looks like an attempt was made on Nigel Farage...again.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3382294/Nigel-Farage-s-car-wheels-sabotaged-assassination-attempt-Ukip-leader-lost-control-Volvo-wheel-fell-motorway-police-confirm-foul-play.html
The whole planet is a smoldering cauldron.
This is but a glimpse of what awaits the USSA unless the military grows a pair.
All the badass pea shooters in the world won't make a dent in their toys.
"the Almighty God shall not ignore the innocents’ blood . . ."
Uh, didn't "the Almighty" just do that BEFORE they were killed?
If He's almighty you'd imagine he'd have stopped it in the first place? The Lord truly acts or doesn't act - in mysterious ways.
Hmm, down votes already. That's okay, as it was once said long ago,
"Respect the god(s), but don't depend on them."
The Great ME war begins this year.
SO WHAT???!! HE'S WITH ALLAH NOW!!!
Isn't that the best that could have happened to that guy anyway?
so does he qualify for 72 virgins
http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2016/01/wolf-messing-predicts-collapse-of-u...
I read about this guy 35 years ago and was impressed. His predictions are suppose to be top secret in Russia. Someone spilled the beans.
Ten years ago and prior his predictions sited in the article would have seemed far fetched. Now??????
The house of Saud falling is at least 40 years overdue. A revolution in Saudi Arabia just might stabilize the whole area. How can the US government have anything to do with these people? They are the biggest exporter of terror on the planet (USA excused....wide spread stupidity). There is no way to justify supporting these people other than money.
Prince Weed telling western media that Trump shouldn't be allowed to run for president? Do we need someone from the royal family telling American citizens who they can vote for? I hope the Saudi people finally rise up and at least try do something. I do think the Iranians supplied the rockets (who else?) that Yemen used to attack Saudi oil fields. The execution might have been payback for the rocket damage.
If the House of Saud falls, the Kingdom will fall under the direct control of ISIS, which will then use the wealth and the nuclear arsenal to conquer the entire Middle East and beyond. The USA can't let that happen. We are wedded to the House of Saud, for better or for worse.
what if? saudi royal tiff ongoing..advise to behead...as expected world anger...now step in as moderate voice and replace current leadership when the anger builds up in saudi arabia... job done..cut back on oil production..bankers happy..get to be king.
We are heading for WW3 and then prepare for a disclosure that will rock the entire planet......
http://beforeitsnews.com/conspiracy-theories/2016/01/top-secret-alien-ph...
Spambot, net.kook, why do you go on different topics and post your nonsense?
Saudi arabia heading the UN human rights just put themselves on death row.
Like with people, it may take some time...
well, for once the United States didn't cause the shitstorm. Next week is going to be verrrry interesting..Ally oop backfire!! Free Barbeque at the Saudi Embassy.
I volunteer all ZH users (except me of course) to help invade Syria..We'll call it the Durden Brigade - bring your own drums and bugles. I'll look after your women until you come back.
The House of Saud DELENDA EST.
Down with the US-Israel's vassal state.
1789, France will be timid compared to what can come to the Saud. The Saud's have set the president and have potentially condemned their own, the crown elite, all 60,000. These individuals should take note and have substantial off-shore holdings if they expect to survive. Time to take that extended vacation, Flagged boats are best as they represent sovereign soil.
Show's how little you know about Northern Ireland Element. Northern Ireland was settled by the British with Scots prods, and the native Irish, who happened to be Catholic, were thrown off their lands to accomodate this settlement. As Cromwell said at the time, to hell, or to Connaught (the western region of Ireland).
It was always an Irish v British thing, although clouded by the respective religious identities. The religious element of it was far more important to the Northern protestants, because they always felt under more threat that the UK mainland Brits, and so they hugged their identity about them, especially since Irish independence. They didn't trust their British cousins on the mainland, who they know would drop them whenever it suited, and so the religious element of their identity, as with all the other elements, were wrapped tighly about them as they withdrew into their laager.
Saudi's are fenced in now, they'll have to fight as the middle east turns to shit. Preferably with US troops, which is a bit harder now a days since we don't need their fucking oil. the politics of oil and insane sheiks with 24k gold plated cars shipped on their 757's to italy to have the oil changed. Someone grease up the camels' ass life is going back to the middle ages for them, and not soon enough.
<-- Cabals of Tel-aviv must be smiling
rather laughing