Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals on October 14, 2026, after they were convicted of committing an “immoral act” inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca. The executions have prompted Bangladesh to seek an explanation, as its diplomatic mission was not notified before the sentences were carried out.
Identity of the Executed and the Charges
The pair were identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, a man and a woman, in a statement issued by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior and carried by the Saudi Press Agency. According to reports, the executions were carried out on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in the Mecca region.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said security authorities arrested the two individuals following the incident. After an investigation, they were charged and referred to a competent court, which found them guilty. The court sentenced them to death under ta’zir, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law.
Judicial Process and Royal Order
The ministry said the punishment was imposed because of the seriousness of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the mosque. The verdicts were upheld by the relevant judicial authority before a royal order authorised the executions, according to the ministry’s statement. However, the authorities did not publicly identify the specific mosque involved or provide further details about the act that led to the convictions.
While some media reports described the offence as a sexual act, the Saudi ministry’s official statement used the broader description of an “immoral act”. The executions have also prompted questions from Bangladesh, whose diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia said it was not notified before the sentences were carried out.
Bangladesh Seeks Clarification
According to The Daily Star report, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah sought clarification from Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels after learning of the executions through media reports. Bangladesh requested formal acknowledgement of the executions and further information about the individuals, the offence, the judicial proceedings and the circumstances surrounding the case.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, subsequently confirmed that the country’s foreign ministry had written to the Saudi government seeking detailed information. She said neither the ministry nor Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission had been informed beforehand. The minister said Bangladesh was awaiting an official response from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s Stance and Warning
The Saudi Ministry of Interior, meanwhile, reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to enforcing its laws and protecting the sanctity of mosques, warning that similar offences would attract legal consequences. The executions highlight the strict application of Islamic law in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding offences considered violations of religious sanctity.
As Bangladesh awaits an official response from Saudi Arabia, the case underscores the diplomatic tensions that can arise when foreign nationals are subject to capital punishment without prior notification to their home country. The outcome of Bangladesh’s request for detailed information will determine the next steps in this diplomatic exchange.
