Execution of Shia Cleric in Saudi Arabia Exacerbates Shia-Sunni Sectarian Divide

Shia-1919-600Protests continue around the world over Saudi Arabia’s execution of 47 anti-government activists, among them four Shiite Muslims, including a prominent Shiite cleric. The executions have fueled sectarian violence between Shiites and Sunnis across the region and have led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Shiites in Saudi Arabia have long complained that, as minorities, they face discrimination.

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