Sohail Mahmood (PhD)
(Member, RIEAS International Advisory Board)
Copyright @ 2016 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) – Publication date: 10 January 2016
The Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr was among the 47 execution on January 2, 2016. Nimr's execution had resulted in Shia protests in several countries of the region. He was a fierce critic of the Saudi rulers and had once even advocated the establishment of a separate Shia state in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia which had a large Shia population. Iran had quickly promised revenge for the execution and so did the Shia Houthis in Yemen. After the execution of Nimr protesters in Tehran responded by torching part of the Saudi Embassy. On January 3, 2016, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced Saudi Arabia was severing ties with Iran. Bahrain had also announced it will sever ties with Iran. Both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were close U.S. allies. Sudan and the UAE also joined in though the UAE's action was limited to downgrading diplomatic relations....Read more