RIYADH // A prominent Shiite cleric appeared in a Saudi court yesterday facing accusations he instigated unrest and sought foreign meddling in the country, a witness said.
Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr was arrested in July last year following trouble in the kingdom's Eastern Province, where the Shiite community is concentrated, and his trial before a special security court opened on Monday.
Yesterday, the prosecution read a list of charges against him including "instigating unrest" and "seeking foreign meddling", in a clear reference to Iran.
Sheikh Al Nimr was also accused of "supporting the rebellion in Bahrain", where a month of Shiite-led pro-reform protests erupted in February 2011 before they were suppressed in a Saudi-backed crackdown.
The court panel adjourned the hearing until a lawyer is appointed, according to the witness who requested anonymity.
Most of Saudi Arabia's estimated two million Shiites live in the east, where the vast majority of oil reserves lie. Shiites complain of marginalisation in the kingdom.
They first took to the streets in protest in February 2011 after an outbreak of violence between Shiite pilgrims and religious police in Medina.
The protests escalated after the kingdom's intervention in Bahrain.
Speaking in November 2011, after four Shiites were shot dead in Eastern province, Sheikh Al Nimr had demanded the "release of all those detained in the protests, and all prisoners of conscience, Sunnis and Shiites."
In a speech at the funeral of one of the protesters at the time, Sheikh Al Nimr said: "We are determined to demand our legitimate rights by peaceful means."
In a report published in May last year, Amnesty International said Saudi Arabia has arrested hundreds of Shiites, mainly men, but also children, since March 2011 for taking part in peaceful protests in the east.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
