[2][5] During the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr urged protestors to resist police bullets with "the roar of the word" rather than violence.

"[11][12] During the protests against al-Nimr's arrest, police fired into a crowd of thousands, killing two men, Akbar al-Shakhouri and Mohamed al-Felfel.

[16] On 15 October 2014, al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for "seeking foreign meddling in Saudi Arabia, disobeying its rulers, and taking up arms against the security forces.

[24] He also condemned Syria's Bashar Assad,[25] stating, "(Bahrain's ruling family) Al Khalifa are oppressors, and the Sunnis are innocent of them.

"[26] In August 2008, al-Nimr stated that he viewed U.S. citizens as natural allies of Shia Muslims, as both share a mindset "based on justice and liberty."

According to John Kincannon, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, al-Nimr made statements that were "perceived as supporting Iran."

[7] He maintained his popularity in 2012, with thousands of people participating in street demonstrations in Qatif in support of him following his arrest in July 2012.

[5] Al-Nimr criticized the authorities' actions in Medina in February and specifically called out the Minister of Interior for discrimination against Saudi Arabian Shia.

Saudi authorities alleged that al-Nimr and his colleagues fired live bullets at the policemen, prompting the police to shoot back.

[14] Pictures of al-Nimr, "covered with what appeared to be a blood-stained white blanket," were published online by activists from the Eastern Province.

[citation needed] Al-Nimr's wife, Muna Jabir al-Shariyavi, died in a New York City hospital while he was imprisoned.

[13] On 21 August, the Asharq Center for Human Rights expressed concern that al-Nimr was on the 45th day of his hunger strike while in prison and stated that he had not been charged.

The Asharq Center appealed for international support to allow access to al-Nimr for his family, lawyer, and human rights activists.

[16] Amnesty International stated that, apart from the charge of firing at security forces on 8 July 2012, the other charges—such as "disobeying the ruler," "inciting sectarian strife," and "encouraging, leading, and participating in demonstrations"—were based on documentary evidence from al-Nimr's sermons and interviews.

Additionally, Amnesty stated that witnesses whose testimonies were used during the trial did not testify in court and that al-Nimr's lawyer was not given a fair opportunity to defend him.

[18] The European Saudi Society for Human Rights (ESSHR) reported details of five of al-Nimr's court appearances following his arrest on 8 July 2012.

[32] On 15 October 2014, al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in [Saudi Arabia], 'disobeying' its rulers, and taking up arms against the security forces.

"[17] Said Boumedouha of Amnesty International stated that the death sentence was "part of a campaign by the authorities in Saudi Arabia to crush all dissent, including those defending the rights of the Kingdom's Shi'a Muslim community.

[38] In March 2015, the people of Nigeria staged a protest in the city of Kano against the detention and death sentence of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

[39] On 13 May 2015, Shia marjas Ja'far Sobhani, Naser Makarem Shirazi, and Hossein Noori Hamedani condemned the death sentence.

[40] Aware of the imminent execution of Sheikh Nimr in May 2015, Shia Muslims worldwide staged peaceful rallies and submitted petitions to the United Nations to prevent the death sentence.

In Iran, clerics and scholars held a mass sit-in on 13 May in Qom and Mashhad to show their solidarity with Sheikh Nimr and express their agitation.

[41] On 17 May 2015, the Ahlul Bayt News Agency reported a peaceful protest rally in solidarity with Sheikh al-Nimr, held in Berlin, Germany.

[42] On 31 December 2015, a group of prominent Sunni clerics in Iran called on the United Nations and other international organizations in a letter to intensify efforts to free al-Nimr.

[43] In November 2015, alongside two volunteers working for human rights and international religious freedom, 15 organizations from various religions and communities advocating for humanity and justice collectively requested that the U.S. Secretary of State approach and urge the King of Saudi Arabia to waive the death sentences given to Sheikh Nimr, Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon, and Abdullah al-Zaher.

The signatories of the petition included:[44] In October 2014, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court approved the death sentence of al-Nimr for disobeying the ruler, inciting sectarian strife, and encouraging, leading, and participating in demonstrations.