Mr al-Nimr's family claim the real reason he was prosecuted is that his uncle, Sheik al-Nimr, is a critic of the regime and a focus of Shi'ite protests

A young Saudi Arabian man is facing crucifixion after beheading for attending an antigovernment protest in 2012, when he was 17.

A court in Jeddah passed the sentence on Ali al-Nimr, now 21, last May. All appeals processes have been exhausted, and the sentence is expected to be carried out within days after being upheld by the Supreme Court this week. Crucifixion in Saudi Arabia involves the victim being beheaded, with the corpse then strung up in public.

Mr al-Nimr, a student, was convicted of participating in illegal demonstrations against the state, attacking security forces, possessing a machinegun and armed robbery. He has said the verdict was based on a confession extracted under torture. His family claim that the real reason for his prosecution is