Iran’s Supreme Leader Tweets Tribute To Executed Saudi Cleric

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted a tribute to a prominent Shi’ite executed by Saudi Arabia on Saturday, adding his voice to a chorus of condemnation in Iran and beyond.

“Awakening is not suppressible,” read the tweet on Khamenei’s English-language Twitter account, next to a photograph of Nimr.

Saudi Arabia executed Nimr al-Nimr and three other Shi’ites alongside dozens of al Qaeda members of Saturday, signaling it would not tolerate attacks by either Sunni jihadists or members of the Shi’ite minority seeking equality.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman also accused Saudi Arabia on Saturday of supporting terrorism and executing its opponents.

“The Saudi government supports terrorists and takfiri (radical Sunni) extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

According to the Iranian media, the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran has been attacked on Saturday by some protesters and set ablaze after Riyadh executed 47 people including a prominent Shia critic of the Saudi regime.

Saudi embassy in Tehran has been attacked by protesters and set ablaze after Riyadh executed 47 people including a prominent Shia critic (Photo Credit: ISNA)

In addition, a Saudi consulate in Mashhad was stormed by Iranian protesters and the Saudi flag was reportedly taken down.

Meanwhile, an Iranian prominent cleric denounced the execution on Saturday of Nimr al-Nimr and predicted the repercussions would bring down the Saudi ruling family.

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said in an interview with the Mehr news agency that Nimr’s execution reflected the “criminal” nature of the Saudi ruling family.

“I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history,” Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts and a Friday prayer leader, was quoted as saying by Mehr.

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