A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a prominent Shia cleric to death, his brother has said on Twitter.
Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr went on trial in Riyadh last year after being accused by prosecutors of "sowing discord" and "undermining national unity".
The cleric was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Eastern Province in 2011.
His arrest two years ago, during which he was shot and wounded by police, triggered days of deadly unrest.
Oil-rich Eastern Province is home to a Shia majority that has long complained of marginalisation at the hands of the Sunni royal family.
Protests began there in February 2011 after the start of the pro-democracy uprising in neighbouring Bahrain, which has a Shia majority and a Sunni royal family.
The Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia and blame Iran for stirring up discontent.
'Crucifixion'
Sheikh Nimr's brother said he had been sentenced to death by Riyadh's Specialised Criminal Court, which tries terrorism cases, on Wednesday morning.
When the cleric, who holds the rank of ayatollah, went on trial in March 2013 prosecutors called for his execution by "crucifixion", a punishment which in Saudi Arabia involves beheading followed by public display of the decapitated body.
He is sentenced to martyrdom walilahil hamd. Killed by the khawarij is the best martyrdom!
The ISIS Kingdom occupying the holy sites must be stopped.
