There are fears that Saudi Arabia’s execution of prominent Shia clericNimr al-Nimr could spark new unrest among Saudi Arabia’s Shiite minority.
The Shiite minority is largely concentrated in the kingdom’s east, and in Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shiite majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni monarchy.
Police fired tear gas at demonstrators according to eyewitnesses
Police fired tear gas at demonstrators according to eyewitnessesAl-Nimr had been a vocal critic of Bahrain’s Sunni-led monarchy, which harshly suppressed the 2011 Shiite-led protests.
Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain quash the uprising, fearing it would spread.
A Bahraini protester holds a picture of Nimr al-Nimr as others clash with security forces
A Bahraini protester holds a picture of Nimr al-Nimr as others clash with security forces In video footage, security forces can be seen firing tear gas at the protesters as they clash with police in Sitra, Barbar town and the Nwidrat neighbourhood.
