Ali al-Nimr is to be crucified for protesting against the Saudi Government

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Human rights campaigners are calling on the European Union to step-in to prevent Ali Mohammed al-Nimr being executed by Saudi Arabian authorities.

Mr al-Nimr has been in a Saudi Arabian jail since he was arrested on Valentines' Day in 2012 when he was just 17-years-old during a crackdown on anti-government protests in the Shi'ite province of Qatif.

Authorities accused him of taking part in illegal protests and firearms offences - despite no evidence being produced for the latter charge.

After numerous breaches of international standards following his and his family's strong denial of the charges, a final appeal was held in secret and without Mr al-Nimr's knowledge which was dismissed, giving him few legal options now to oppose the sentence originally handed down on May 27 last year.

Lawyers now fear Mr al-Nimr will be executed within days.