2016 in Saudi Arabia explained

The following lists events that happened in 2016 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Incumbents

• Monarch

Salman

• Crown Prince

Muhammad bin Nayef

Events

January

• January 2 - 47 alleged terrorists are executed by the Saudi state, including leader of the anti-government Shia movement, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.^{[1] [2]}
• January 2 - The embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tehran, Iran, is ransacked and set on fire by protesters against al-Nimr's execution.^[3]
• January 3 - Saudi Arabia breaks off diplomatic relations with Iran after the events that happened on January 2.^[4]
• January 4 - Saudi Arabia announces it will end all air traffic and trade links with Iran, demanding Iran to "act like a normal country" before severed diplomatic relations can be restored.^[5]
• January 5 - The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant threatens to destroy Saudi Arabia's Tarfiya and al-Ha'ir prisons, holding ISIL prisoners.^[6]
• January 12 - Saudi human rights activist Samar Badawi is arrested by Saudi police.^[7]

April

• April 16 - Mariam Fardous became the first ever Arab woman and only the third woman in history to dive in the North Pole.^[8]

October

• October 25 - Shooting left 2 security forces dead in Dammam city.^[9]

Notable deaths

• 2 January  - Nimr al-Nimr, Shia religious leader (born 1959).^[1]
• 2 January  - Faris al-Zahrani, (born 1977).^[1]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Saudi Arabia executes 47 on terrorism charges . Al Jazeera. 3 January 2016 . 4 January 2016.
2. News: Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric . BBC News . 2 January 2016 . 20 January 2016.
3. News: Iranian Protesters Ransack Saudi Embassy After Execution of Shiite Cleric . The New York Times . 2 January 2016 . 20 January 2016. Hubbard . Ben .
4. News: Saudi Arabia breaks off ties with Iran after al-Nimr execution . BBC News . 4 January 2016 . 20 January 2016.
5. News: Exclusive: Saudi Arabia to halt flights, trade with Iran . Reuters . 4 January 2016 . 20 January 2016.
6. News: Islamic State threatens to destroy Saudi prisons after executions . Reuters . 6 January 2016 . 20 January 2016.
7. Web site: Prominent human rights activist arrested in Saudi Arabia . 12 January 2016 . 20 January 2016.
8. News: AboutHer.com spotlights Saudi Arabian women. 2018-05-15. Arab News. 26 July 2018. en.
9. News: Two Saudi security officers shot dead by gunmen: Arabiya TV. Reuters. 25 October 2016.