2016 Saudi Arabia mass execution

On January 2, 2016, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 47 imprisoned civilians convicted for terrorism in 12 different provinces in the country. Forty-three were beheaded and four were executed by firing squads. Among the 47 people killed was Shia Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The execution was the largest carried out in the kingdom since 1980. Nimr al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court on 15 October 2014 for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in [Saudi Arabia], 'disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces".His execution was condemned by religious and political figures and human rights groups. The Saudi government said the body would not be handed over to the family. al-Nimr was very critical of the Saudi Arabian government, and called for free elections in Saudi Arabia.

The mass execution sparked mass protests across the Middle East, during which protesters in Tehran and Mashhad burned part of the Saudi diplomatic missions, and the Saudi Embassy in Iraqi capital Baghdad was attacked by protesters and a rocket. The embassies were empty during the attacks. In response, the Saudi state severed ties with Iran. The Iranian government condemned the embassy attack in Iran.

Out of the total forty-seven people executed, forty-five were Saudis, one was Egyptian, and one was Chadian.

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