Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed 47 terrorists, 45 of them were Saudi nationals, sending a very loud and clear message that there will be absolutely zero tolerance against terrorism, extremism or sectarianism. The long-awaited death sentences were swiftly carried out in 12 different cities across Saudi Arabia. The reaction of Saudis to the news was one of relief because it gives closure for an ugly episode of "Terror" which was brought by the 47 executed terrorists. The reaction of global media was puzzling and odd at best to say the least. Amongst the executed terrorists were two notorious names Faris Alshuwail and Nimr Alnimr. To Saudis these two names were symbols of hatred, sectarianism and violence for a very long and bloody time. Global media, which jumped on the news, was mainly interested in covering the fact that Saudi Arabia executed a "Shia" cleric while completely ignoring the clear fact that it executed both Sunni and Shia terrorists. The concentration on the sectarian fact and highlighting it in such aggressive manner cannot be seen as benign at all. Nimr Alnimr to Saudis is a terrorist who called for arming protestors and killing security officers. He advocated violence and called for the toppling of the regime exactly like the rhetoric of Al Qaeda leader Faris Alshuwail. The Saudi security personnel have been putting up a very long and brave fight against various cells of terror. The suffering was great but a decision was made that protecting the country from terror was priority No. 1. Frankly many people were surprised why did it take so long for the execution to take place (including this writer) but at least now justice is done, and an evil crime deserves such punishment. Terrorism knows no religion and it surely knows no sects!
