Skip to main content

The Saudi decision to halt diplomatic relations came after their mass execution Saturday of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others – the largest carried out by Saudi Arabia in three and a half decades – laid bare the sectarian divisions gripping the region. Shiite protesters took to the streets from Bahrain to Pakistan while Arab allies of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia quickly lined up behind the kingdom.

Open this photo in gallery:

Shi'ite Muslims try to cross a barricade during a protest against the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed along with others in Saudi Arabia, in front of Saudi Arabia embassy in New Delhi, India.Adnan Abidi/Reuters

1 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Muslim Americans protest against the execution of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, during a rally in Dearborn, Michigan.Rebecca Cook/Reuters

2 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr protest against the execution of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, during a demonstration in Baghdad.Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

3 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Indian paramilitary troopers patrol during restrictions in the Saidakadal locality of downtown Srinagar.Tauseef Mustafa/AFP / Getty Images

4 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Shi'ite Muslims scuffle with police during a protest against the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed along with others in Saudi Arabia, in front of Saudi Arabia embassy in New Delhi, India.Adnan Abidi/Reuters

5 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr protest against the execution of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, during a demonstration in Baghdad.Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

6 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

A Shi'ite Muslim man holds a picture of cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a protest against the execution of Nimr, who was executed along with others in Saudi Arabia, in front of Saudi Arabia embassy in New Delhi, India.Adnan Abidi/Reuters

7 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Iranian protesters hold pictures of prominent Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a demonstration against the execution of al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, at Imam Hussein square in Tehran.Reuters

8 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Riot police patrol the streets to keep protesters from gathering to demonstrate against the execution of Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, in the village of Sanabis, west of Manama, Bahrain.Hamad Mohammed/Reuters

9 of 10
Open this photo in gallery:

Bahraini women shout slogan during clashes with riot police following a protest against the execution of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities, in the village of Daih, west of the capital Manama, Bahrain.Mohammed Al-Shaikh/AFP / Getty Images

10 of 10

Interact with The Globe