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About 500 protesters staged a noisy demonstration on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, demanding that the Liberal government cancel a $15 billion Canadian arms deal with Saudi Arabia after that country executed 47 prisoners, including the revered Shia religious leader, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The protesters, drawn mainly from Shia Muslim groups in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, staged peaceful demonstrations at the base of the Peace Tower, and outside the embassies of the United States and Saudi Arabia.

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They called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take meaningful action to condemn the Saudis for their flagrant human rights abuses — even if it means damaging Canadian commercial and political interests.

Photo by Jean Levac / Ottawa Citizen

“We’re here today to ask the government to rethink its policy when it comes to Saudi Arabia,” said Toronto Imam Asad Jafri, one of the protesters. “The hypocrisy has to stop.”

The Saudi government executed 47 people convicted of terrorism-related charges on Saturday, sparking outrage across many parts of the Middle East, including Iran where Shias form a majority.