Lucknow:Demanding international sanctions against Saudi Arabia for execution of leading Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, thousands of Shias in Lucknow staged a massive protest on Sunday.

The Grand rally was organized under the banner of the Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind (MUH), an all India organization of Shia clerics, the protest also saw participation of some Sunni Muslims and Hindu religious leaders including Sunni Sufi leader Maulana Hasnain and Acharya Pramod Krishnan.

Led by Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad, the protesters took out a march which culminated into a public meeting at Dargah Hazrat Abbas. They demanded the United Nation and the world Human Rights Organizations to intervene and protect Shia minority in Saudi Arabia.

Members of All India Shia Muslim Personal Law Board led by Maulana Yasoob Abbas stated protest at Roza-e-Kazmain in Saadatganj. They accused Al Saudi of supporting terror organizations and demanded world community to take strong measures against Saudi monarchy.
Similarly Senior Shia Cleric Maulana Hameedul Hasan also condemned the execution and demanded strict action against saudi regime.

Meanwhile, Shia Muslims in Aligarh, Bhopal, Mumbai, Thane, Allahabad, Barabanki and different parts of the country are planning protest against the Saudi Barbarianism.

The Shia organizations announced that similar protests will continue throughout the week.

Sheikh Nimr was a central figure in 2011 Islamic Awakening-inspired peaceful protests in the eastern parts of the Saudi Arabia. He raised voice against atrocities on Shia minority community in his country. Nimr (56) was among a group of 47 convicts executed on Saturday.