Iranian President Hassan Rouhani again condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, saying that the kingdom cannot hide its "great crime" of beheading the cleric by cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran.
"Of course, the Saudi government, in order to cover up its crime of beheading a religious leader has resorted to a strange measure and has severed its ties with the Islamic Republic, whereas, undoubtedly, such moves will never hide that great crime," Rouhani said Tuesday, according to state-run Press TV.
"Criticism should not be responded to with beheading. We hope that European countries, which always react to issues of human rights, would act on their human rights-related obligations in this case, too," the Iranian president added.
He also accused Saudi Arabia of creating a rift between Shia and Sunni Muslims. He urged the Saudi government to abandon the "wrong path" and compensate for its past mistake, according to Tehran Times.
#Saudi Arabia doesn't want peace & stability in the region because chaos helps it cover up its domestic problems & failed regional policies.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 6, 2016
Which country is exacerbating Sunni-Shia divide, bombing #Yemen & undermining governments in Iraq & Syria by providing funds &arms to #ISIS? — Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 6, 2016
Relations between two nations soured following the execution of al-Nimr. Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after a group of protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran following the execution of al-Nimr, as HNGN previously reported.
Saudi Arabia executed al-Nimr and 46 others last week. They were convicted of plotting and carrying out serial bomb blasts in the kingdom. Forty-five of the convicts were Saudi nationals, while two were foreign nationals, a Chadian and an Egyptian. Al Nimr was also accused of fuelling anti-government protests between 2011 and 2013.
