Death Penalty Against Saudi Shiite Cleric 'Not Upheld'

The lawyer and brother of Shiite Saudi cleric Nimr Baqr al-Nimr have denied media reports that a Saudi court had upheld the death sentence against him.



Local media reported on Wednesday that a cassation court in Riyadh had upheld the death sentence against the cleric who was accused of sparking sectarian tensions in Saudi Arabia and revolting against its ruler.



"These reports are untrue," Mohamed, a brother of the Shiite cleric, wrote on Twitter.



"There is nothing new in the case," he added.



Al-Nimr's lawyer also dismissed the reports.



"The verdict has not been upheld," Sadeq al-Jiran wrote on Twitter.



Last October, al-Nimr was sentenced to death after being found guilty by a Saudi court of inciting sedition and revolt in the oil-rich country.



Al-Nimr was arrested in July of 2012 against the background of Shiite protests in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Doha