A Saudi court has sentenced prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr to death.
The cleric was accused by prosecutors of "sowing discord" and "undermining national unity", due to his support for anti-government protests that erupted in the country’s Shia-majority Eastern Province in 2011.
Sheikh Nimr's brother said he was sentenced to death in the Specialised Criminal Court, which tries terrorism cases, on Wednesday.
Shias in the kingdom have for many years protested against discrimination by the Sunni majority and demonstrations followed the uprising in Bahrain, which has a Shia-majority population but is ruled by a Sunni royal family.
At the beginning of his trial, human rights groups expressed concern that he would not be treated fairly.