World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Saudi Arabia Executes Two Bangladeshis Over Alleged Conduct in Mecca Mosque
Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals in the Mecca region on October 14.
They had been convicted of alleged immoral conduct inside a mosque, which Saudi authorities said violated the site’s religious sanctity.
A Saudi court sentenced them under ta’zir, a system that lets judges set punishments at their discretion under Islamic law.
The sentence was reviewed by higher judicial authorities and carried out under a royal order.
Bangladesh says it received no advance notice and has asked Saudi Arabia for information about the case.
The details of the alleged conduct and whether the two received consular help during the proceedings have not been confirmed.
The case raises questions about how Bangladesh was informed and what support its citizens received.
Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals in Mecca on October 14 over alleged immoral conduct inside a mosque.
The Saudi Interior Ministry said the court considered the conduct a serious violation of the mosque’s sanctity.
The pair were sentenced under ta’zir, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law, and the sentence was confirmed through judicial review and a royal order.
Bangladesh said it had not been notified before the executions and asked Saudi Arabia for information.
Saudi authorities have not publicly detailed the alleged conduct or the circumstances of the arrests.
- Who
- Two Bangladeshi nationals. Reports give their names with differing spellings: Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Siti Attar or Akhtar.
- What
- Saudi Arabia executed them after they were convicted of alleged immoral conduct inside a mosque.
- When
- October 14. Reports about the executions were published on October 15 and 16.
- Where
- In the Mecca region of Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The Saudi court said their conduct seriously violated the sanctity of a religious site.
Saudi authorities
Bangladesh authorities
Notice
Saudi authorities
Saudi Arabia said it carried out the executions after judicial review and a royal order.
Bangladesh authorities
Bangladesh said it had not received advance notice and sought an explanation.
Justification
Saudi authorities
Saudi Arabia said the conduct violated the mosque’s sanctity and warranted punishment under Islamic law.
Bangladesh authorities
Bangladesh officials called the rapid arrests and executions unusual and questioned the lack of contact with its diplomatic mission.
Saudi Arabia executed the two Bangladeshi nationals in the Mecca region.
Bangladesh’s consulate reportedly requested information from Saudi Arabia after learning of the executions through media reports.
News outlets reported the executions and Bangladesh’s request for an explanation.
- Nationality
- Both were Bangladeshi
- Execution date
- October 14
- Location
- Mecca region, Saudi Arabia
- Sentence
- Death under ta’zir, a discretionary punishment under Islamic law
- Diplomatic response
- Bangladesh said it had not received advance notice and requested information from Saudi Arabia
3 sources
What people are saying
The Saudi government once again confirms its commitment to maintaining security and establishing justice, and to strictly applying Islamic law to those who violate the sanctity of mosques.
We did not receive prior notification from the Saudi authorities before the execution and only became aware of it after seeing media reports.
It is very unusual for the Saudi authorities to arrest two Bangladeshi nationals so quickly and carry out their executions.