The United States called on Saudi Arabia on Sunday to have fair judicial proceedings and respect human rights after Riyadh executed Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 other activists.

The United States called on Saudi Arabia on Sunday to have fair judicial proceedings and respect human rights after Riyadh executed Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 other activists.

"We reaffirm our calls on the Government of Saudi Arabia to respect and protect human rights, and to ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings in all cases," John Kirby, a spokesman for the US State Department, said in a statement on Saturday.

Kirby said Washington had previously expressed its concern about the legal system in Saudi Arabia and that it addressed those concerns at high levels with the Saudi government.

He said the US maintains that the Saudi government should allow peaceful expression of dissent and cooperate with all community leaders to defuse tensions.

"We are particularly concerned that the execution of prominent Shia cleric and political activist Nimr al-Nimr risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced," Kirby said.

“In this context, we reiterate the need for leaders throughout the region to redouble efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions,” he added.

Also, White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said that the Obama administration had previously called on the Saudis to exercise restraint concerning respect for human rights.

“We broadly, I think, have concerns about human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, and again we also would like to see steps taken by Saudi Arabia and other countries to reduce sectarian tensions in the region,” Rhodes said.