Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): A British website said that among the 37 men executed in Saudi Arabia over "Terrorism Offences" was a religious leader who had preached for peace between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

The Shiite religious leader is Sheikh Mohammed Al-Attiyah. He had spoken of the need for Shiites to work with Saudi Arabia's Sunni majority, adding: "As long as we live in the same country, we have no choice but to accept one another and live with one another, no matter the degree of difference between us." He is the second cleric to be executed in Saudi Arabia after Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr.

The website said that the Saudi authorities beheaded 37 of its citizens. One man's executed body and severed head were pinned to a pole in a public square to act as a warning to others.

Thirty four of those killed were minority Shiites and critics said the move was political to impress the USA.

Saudi dissident Ali Al-Ahmed, who runs the Gulf Institute in Washington, described Tuesday's executions as a politically motivated message to Iran. "This is political," he said. "They didn't have to execute these people, but it's important for them to ride the American anti-Iranian wave."

Arabic Version