TEHRAN - Prominent Iranian Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi and Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani have condemned a recent move by the Saudi regime to uphold the death sentence handed to prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

In a statement on Monday, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi described Saudi authorities’ decision to execute Sheikh Nimr as “unwise and dangerous” and warned against the consequences of such a move, Tasnim reported.

“We recommend the inexperienced officials of Saudi Arabia not to cause the already chaotic situation of their country to deteriorate and not to aggravate instability by such malicious and provocative acts,” the top cleric noted in the statement.

Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani also said the Saudi regime uses a religious appearance to serve the U.S. and Israel.

Mohamed al-Nimr, the cleric’s brother, said on Sunday that the death sentence has been referred to King Salman’s office for a final decision.

Saudi criminal court had earlier referred Sheikh Nimr’s case to an appeals court, where the verdict was upheld in early March.

SP/P