Saudi Arabia executes two Bangladeshi nationals over Mecca mosque incident

Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals following their conviction for committing what authorities described as immoral acts inside a mosque in Mecca, without providing prior notification to the Bangladeshi government.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior identified the two citizens as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar. Statements carried by the Saudi Press Agency confirmed that security forces arrested the pair inside a Mecca mosque. Following an investigation, a criminal court sentenced both to death under ta'zir—a category of discretionary punishment under Islamic law applied at a judge's discretion where Sharia does not prescribe a fixed penalty.

What happened in Mecca

The court ruling was subsequently upheld by higher judicial authorities, and a royal order was issued to carry out the capital punishment. The executions were carried out in the Mecca region on 14 October.

Saudi officials cited the severity of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the mosque as grounds for the sentence. The ministry re-affirmed its commitment to enforcing law and order across religious sites, warning that similar violations would face strict legal consequences. Saudi authorities have not publicly disclosed the precise nature of the alleged acts or the exact date when the arrests occurred.

Dhaka kept in the dark

Diplomatic representatives from Bangladesh expressed concern over the absence of prior communication. An official at the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah stated that the mission was not informed ahead of the executions.

The consulate has submitted a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia requesting formal acknowledgement and clarification regarding the matter. The lack of prior notification also left unresolved whether the two individuals received diplomatic assistance or if their families were contacted before the sentences were carried out.

Capital punishment in Saudi Arabia

The executions come amid ongoing international attention regarding Saudi Arabia's reliance on capital punishment, particularly under discretionary legal mandates.

Human rights groups have routinely criticized the frequent application of the death penalty under ta'zir, noting that broad judicial discretion in capital cases raises serious international legal concerns.