On Saturday, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh al-Nimr, an outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy, along with 46 other people convicted of terrorism. Demonstrators protesting in Tehran against the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr attacked the Saudi embassy later that day.
"Just spoke w @JZarif [Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif] & al Jubeir [Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir], underlined importance of restraint & dialogue, reiterated our rejection of death penalty," Kurz said in a Twitter posting.
Just spoke w @JZarif & al Jubeir, underlined importance of restraint & dialogue,reiterated our rejection of death penalty #Iran #SaudiArabia
— Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) January 3, 2016
According to media reports, the protests in Tehran resumed on Sunday.
Sheikh al-Nimr rose to prominence during the 2011 anti-government protests in the Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia, where the Shiite population says they are being discriminated against. He was sentenced to death on charges of inciting hatred and disobedience to the Saudi king in 2014.
