Ali Mohammed al-Nimr (Picture: Facebook)

The year might be 2015 but Saudi Arabia is still apparently planning to crucify someone.

If that wasn’t enough the Middle Eastern country will also behead Ali Mohammed al-Nimr before they rope him up on to a piece of wood, according to International Business Times.

Authorities had accused the 21-year-old of possessing firearms and supporting pro-democracy demonstrations using his Blackberry smartphone.

He received the harsh punishment earlier this month during a closed hearing, following his arrest in 2012.


MORE: ‘Inspirational’ bride-to-be learns to walk again for her wedding day after catching deadly brain flu

But it’s now hoped King Salman bin Abdulaziz could take mercy on him and issue a pardon this week for Eid al-Adha, a Muslim festival.



‘The only way to get Ali out of this would be a royal pardon. Whether he will be released or not depends on what the king decides,’ said Zena Esia, who works for the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights.

There had been allegations the young man’s confession was gained from torture and he was partly in jail because his uncle was activist Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.

The Shia cleric was also sentenced to death after ‘waging war on God’, which included terrorism offences.

MORE: Helicopter police officer questioned for ‘filming Page Three girl sunbathing in garden’

It is hoped he will be given a pardon (Picture: Facebook)

Al-Nimr’s plight led to an outrage on social media, with people tweeting their support for him under the #AliMohammedAl_Nimr and #Ali_AlNimr hashtags.

Another two minors are also reportedly on death row as a result of protesting.

MORE: Is that Richard III’s ghost on a stone slab in Leicester Cathedral?