East Londoners Horrified By Saudi Slaughter

Kay Ayed listens to East Londoners responding to news of Saudi Arabia’s day of executions.

rip nimr

Two days into the New Year, Saudi Arabian authorities committed human rights atrocities by executing 47 people. Among the victims was top shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr alNimr.

Sheikh Nimr was a prominent human rights activist who demanded rights for Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority.

Not only was he beheaded, he was also crucified before his remains were thrown out of a helicopter, prompting protests across the world.

In the week following the executions, I canvassed opinion across East London. I didn’t find anyone who supported the actions of the Saudi Arabian government.

Ferdia Carr, Hackney:

I hadn’t heard of Sheikh Nimr until the news of the executions. I’d assumed until recent attacks there weren’t many Shia in Saudi Arabia.

The tragedy in this for Westerners (apart from the obvious tragedy of loss of life and minority persecution) is that we’re forced to be friends with the perpetrators. We fight against radical Islamism on the one hand and support it with the other.

We’ll never convince people in the Middle East we have good intentions if we only apply our standards inconistently. Sheikh Nimr apparently supported non-violent protest and the idea of free elections in Saudi Arabia. If what I’ve read about him is true, then our alliance with the Saudis is contradictory to the values we espouse. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.

Afreen Rizvi, Redbridge

I think it’s fundamental to realise that the UK government and the US government are just as much to blame as the Saudi regime for the execution of our scholar Sheikh Nimr. Our governments had the power to intervene but chose not to – thus innocent lives were stolen and thousands of people are mourning globally.

Noor Al-Sudani, Mile End

I am actually speechless. Living in the West you somehow feel that your emotions for what is going on in the Middle East are irrelevant to you but I found these executions heartbreaking because I feel let down by the country that I’ve worked hard in and contribute to through my taxes etc. I’m sorry I can’t articulate my thoughts or feelings very well but I’m in physical pain.

Ricky Singh, Manor Park

I’ve never liked Saudi anyway due to them not treating anyone other than Arab Sunnis right. They don’t give a toss if you’re Muslim or not – they just care about money. Anything that benefits them they’ll do it. They knew Nimr was a threat because he had massive following, so they executed him. These people manipulate the translations of the Quran as well, to mess people’s heads up.

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