Saudi Arabia has broken off diplomatic ties with Iran following an attack on the Kingdom's embassy in Tehran, inspired by Saudi's decision to execute 47 men including Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir announced the decision to expel Iran's diplomats following the evacuation of its own diplomatic staff from Iran.

Iran's diplomats have been given 48 hours to leave Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom's foreign ministry accused Iran of failing in its duty to protect its embassy in Tehran.

A large mob attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran last night, setting the building on fire with petrol bombs and ransacking items from the Saudi diplomatic offices.
Iran's Supreme Leader had vowed 'divined revenge' on Saudi Arabia after it executed 47 prisoners, including a prominent Shiite cleric, yesterday.

Its elite paramilitary unit, the Revolutionary Guard, compared the Sunni-ruled country to terror group ISIS and warned the 'medieval act of savagery' would lead to the monarchy's downfall.

A controversial meme posted on an Iranian website, thought to belong to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, suggested the only difference between Saudi rulers and ISIS executioners was the clothes they wore.

Saudi Arabia claimed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and the other executed prisoners, which include three other Shiite dissidents and a number of al-Qaeda supporters, were all convicted 'terrorists'. It said Iran had 'revealed its true face as a supporter of terrorists' by condemning al-Nimr's death.

The UK Government expressed its 'disappointment' at the mass executions carried out by Saudi Arabia which have triggered unrest in the region and led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran.
Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood said: 'I am deeply disturbed by the escalation in tensions in the last 24 hours in the Middle East.

'The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty. We have stressed this to the Saudi authorities and also expressed our disappointment at the mass executions.'

The minister said he expected the kingdom's government not to carry out the death sentence imposed on the cleric's nephew Ali al-Nimr, who was just 17 when he was told he faced crucifixion over his role in the Arab Spring protests in 2012.

Mr Ellwood said: 'We have discussed with the authorities in Riyadh, and expect that Ali Al-Nimr and others who were convicted as juveniles will not be executed. The UK will continue to raise these cases with the Saudi authorities.

'We are deeply concerned to hear of the attack yesterday on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. It is essential that diplomatic missions are properly protected and respected.

'There are those who will wish to exploit the situation and raise sectarian tensions higher. This would be against the wishes of the vast majority of those in the region. I urge all parties in the region to show restraint and responsibility.'



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WHO WAS SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR AND WHY WAS HE EXECUTED BY SAUDI ARABIA?



Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr rose to prominence during the 2011 pro-democracy protests in his hometown of Qatif, eastern Saudi Arabia.

His leadership elevated him to hero-like status among the protesting Shiite youth.

He also became an icon in the broader 'Shia versus Sunni' narrative, which is played out across the Middle East - most acutely in the Yemeni and Syrian civil wars and in Iraq.

His peaceful, but outspoken opposition to the Saudi Royal family, and his very public speeches against the monarchy demanding equality for Shias in Saudi Arabia also increased his profile.

Nimr was arrested in July 2012 and charged with instigating unrest, 'disobeying the ruler' and 'encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations'.

The charges were dismissed by human rights advocacy group Amnesty International as violating freedom of speech. His arrest caused days of rioting in Saudi Arabia, in which three people were killed.

He was sentenced to death on October 25 after his appeal was denied, no date was set for his execution, although Saudi Arabian King Salman could have pardoned the cleric at any time.

Amnesty International UK's Shane Enright said a recent Amnesty report concluded that the trial against Nimr was 'deeply flawed', adding: 'We also came to the conclusion that he was jailed solely for expressing his peaceful points of view, protesting peacefully against the regimes.

'This is an absolute, fundamental, breach of basic human rights,' he said.

The Sheikh's nephew Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 at the time of his arrest following the protests, was not included in the list of those executed although concerns are growing for his fate.

He has been sentenced to death by beheading and crucifixion.


By Isabel Hunter and Jay Akbar For Mailonline and Ollie Gillman For Dailymail.com
09:47 03 Jan 2016, updated 22:02 03 Jan 2016


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3382586/Iran-compares-Saudi-Arabia-ISIS-Supreme-Leader-vows-divine-revenge-executing-47-prisoners-including-Shiite-cleric.html




Saudi and Iran: War because of Meme?