Merkel justifies relationship with Saudi Arabia
Feb 7th
Germany will continue its cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After the execution of 47 detainees, among them the prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, and following diplomatic crisis between Tehran and Riadh, Chancellor Angela Merkel was criticized for continuation of the relationship with the Saudi kingdom.
The Shiite community of Germany reacted publicly. Ayatollah Ramezani, speaker of the Friday prayer sermon of the Shiite community in Hamburg criticized Saudi Arabia for repressing human rights. According to the cleric, Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences of repressing social and political groups.