Saudi Arabia may have just created a Martyr that will cause more problems for their regime then just allowing him to speak freely. Nimr Al Nimr appears to be a Shiite Cleric that wanted Saudi Arabia to have greater Democratic Reform and was executed for that reason. I’m sure there is more to the story (or hope there is) but right now that is the narrative and the Kingdom better get ahead of the news cycle before it causes a greater revolt. The fear is that the Kingdom would squash any attempts for serious democratic regime with violence which would help spark extreme Islamic groups (ISIS, Al Qaeda) to recruit others to join in more violence against the Saudi Arabian regime and the world.