O soul that is at complete rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with Him), well-pleasing (Him), So enter among My servants, and enter into My Heaven.
(Noble Quran 89:27-30)
We, the undersigned, deplore and strongly condemn the execution of prominent Shia Muslim scholar, Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimin Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr, and other activists, who campaigned for political reform and the right for freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia.
The signatories to the statement are:
- Ali Ibrahimi, Chairman, Portsmouth Afghan Community
- Habibolah Zaher and Aziz Ashoori, Imam Ali Centre, Southampton Afghan Shia Association
- Nilofar Waltham, Chairperson, Al-Zahra Islamic Association, Southampton
- Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo, Imam of Al Mahdi Centre, Wessex Jamaat
As a religious scholar, reformist and human rights activist, Sheikh Nimr repeatedly called for an end to corruption and discrimination against minorities. Having been imprisoned for nearly two years, Sheikh Nimr was sentenced to death in October, 2014 after a deeply flawed trial. The Guardian newspaper is quoted as "Crucially, according to his supporters, the cleric was careful to avoid calling for violence, his advocates insisting he eschewed all, but peaceful opposition to the government. On one occasion, Nimr urged protestors to resist police bullets using only "the roar of the word".
As British Muslims, we are shocked and appalled by the execution at a time when sectarian tensions are increasing throughout the Middle East and spreading across the world. This judicial murder will only increase conflict, further inflame sectarian tensions and provide encouragement to extremist terror groups such as DAESH /ISIS to continue their persecution of religious minorities. This is also counterproductive to the efforts of organisations and scholars who continue to engage in constructive dialogue to diffuse tensions and achieve peace. We work hard to robustly defend human rights and promote British values – such as free speech, fairness, justice, democracy, truth and equal rights – regardless of gender, ethnicity or faith. We denounce all forms of extremism and aim to promote a cohesive society.
We call for respect and upholding of universal human rights and maintaining the sanctity of human life. We must deepen intra-faith unity in Britain and across the ummah around the world. Let us continue to work towards establishing peace and harmony in the community and defy the terrorists whose only aim is to divide us. Let us all, as people of the ummah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (saww), stand firm with love, compassion and solidarity.
Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr and other activists executed for voicing their views on protection of human rights.
4th January, 2016