Ayatollah Amoli-Larijani:

Saudi footprint in all regional crises

Rasa - Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani has slammed Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, saying all conflicts in the region can be traced back to the Saudi regime.

News ID: 3762

Date: 04 January 2016 - 16:23

RNA - “The Muslim world, today, is witnessing numerous crimes [committed] by Saudis in different regions and in all [instances of] belligerency happening in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain, Saudis’ footprint and their support for terrorists are seen,” Amoli-Larijani said on Monday.

He added that Saudi rulers hatch “the most evil plots” on behalf of hegemonic powers and colonialists, saying “undoubtedly, their crimes in Syria, Iraq and Yemen will serve the interests of Israel and the US.”

Western countries are mistaken to think that they can establish a foothold in the Muslim world by supporting Saudi rulers, said the Iranian judiciary chief.

He further added that the move by Saudi Arabia to execute Sheikh Nimr is a sign that the Al Saud regime is “on the verge of collapse.”

On Saturday, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced that Sheikh Nimr had been put to death along with 46 others convicted of being involved in “terrorism.”

Nimr’s execution has drawn strong public and political reactions around the world. The monarchy has, however, rejected all criticisms, accusing critics of meddling in its internal affairs.

Sheikh Nimr, a critic of the Riyadh regime, was shot by Saudi police and arrested in 2012 in Qatif, which was the scene of peaceful anti-regime demonstrations at the time.

He was charged with instigating unrest and undermining the kingdom’s security. He had rejected the charges as baseless.

In 2014, a Saudi court sentenced Nimr to death, provoking widespread global condemnations. The sentence was upheld last March by the appeal court of Saudi Arabia.

R111/108/C/