DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A court in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday postponed issuing its verdict in a sensitive case against a popular Shiite cleric who faces charges that carry a death sentence.

Sheik Nimr al-Nimr’s brother told The Associated Press that the verdict was delayed until Oct. 21. Mohammed al-Nimr said that for the first time since his brother’s arrest in July 2012, security officials barred the sheik from attending Tuesday’s court session.