The “hysterical” reaction of Iran to the execution of the Shiite cleric Nimr Al Nimr in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the year reflects the magnitude of its loss. Al Nimr was a prominent figure who had been trained to carry out an important saboteur role and spread sedition in Saudi society, suggested Hamad Al Kaabi, a contributing writer in the Abu Dhabi-based daily Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister newspaper to The National.
“His was a mission similar to the one Hassan Nasrallah and Abdul Malik Al Houthi are entrusted to carry out in Lebanon and Yemen respectively,” he wrote.
“This might help explain the frenzy that spread across Tehran when Saudi decided to execute convicted terrorists.”
There soon followed an anti-Saudi campaign in Iran and in Iranian-controlled territories throughout the Arab world.
All that wailing and prejudiced abuse was unfounded. Those who took to every available platform to criticise Saudi Arabia were blinded by unconditional sectarian partisanship. They didn’t stop to tally the large numbers of people who were executed in Iran in recent years, without any legal procedures. The UN has assessed the rate at three executions per day.
“When it comes to capital punishment, Iran’s figures surpass most other countries in the world. Especially alarming is the fact that these are sentences issued by tribunals that lack any independence and impartiality,” he added.
Iran has been implementing these stringent practices against its people while prohibiting any international organisations from weighing in on the situation.
“Iran has no right to condemn or denounce clear judicial rulings that were issued in accordance with Sharia and the law and which aim to limit the terrorism and protect the innocent from the evil effects of extremism,” he noted.
“Rulings weren’t religiously discriminating. They were implemented against all those proven guilty.”
Iran has a track record of attacks on diplomatic missions and consulates on its territories. Such actions put diplomatic staff in constant danger, and this requires a firm reaction from the rest of the world.
“Iran is a terrorism-fostering and sedition-exporting country in the region. As a reaction to its skewed politics, several countries have dismissed Iranian ambassadors from their territories and severed diplomatic ties with Tehran, making Iranians the biggest loser due to their own condescending politics,” he concluded.
The issue of Iran’s reaction to the execution of Al Nimr was also addressed by Egyptian columnist Ibrahim Al Bahrawi in Al Masri Al Youm.
He said the fight against Iran’s expansion and ambitions to control foreign territory is not just a GCC concern.
Egypt, too, must join in the effort to deter Iran as it continues to distort the Shiite sect and use it as a ruse within Arab countries, attracting Arab Shiites and building its power bases within their communities.
Allowing Iran to impose its control in the Gulf would encourage it to set its eyes on Egypt, he asserted.
“I suggest we ignore the western media that seeks to turn our attention away from the real motives behind Iran’s interference in Saudi internal affairs.
“The western media is downplaying Iranian aggression against Saudi Arabia when it portrays Nimr Al Nimr as a democratic leader, ignoring that he had called for violence and sought to undermine the kingdom’s national unity,” he concluded.
Translated by Racha Makarem
rmakarem@thenational.ae