Saudi Arabia executes two Bangladeshi nationals over alleged misconduct inside Makkah Mosque

Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, over allegations of inappropriate acts inside a mosque

Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, over allegations of inappropriate acts inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah, according to Saudi media reports.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced that the executions were carried out in the Makkah region on October 14. The individuals were identified as Nazarul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar.

According to the ministry’s statement, Saudi security authorities apprehended the two individuals while they were allegedly committing the offence. Following their arrest, an investigation was conducted, and charges were brought against them before the relevant judicial authorities.

The ministry stated that the case was subsequently presented to a competent court, which found both individuals guilty of the charges and sentenced them to death.

Saudi authorities cited the seriousness of the alleged offence and the violation of the sanctity of the location and the time as reasons for the severe punishment. However, the official statement did not identify the specific mosque where the incident allegedly occurred.

The ministry also did not disclose the date on which the two individuals were arrested or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the case.

The announcement has also drawn attention to diplomatic concerns, as Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission in Jeddah reportedly approached the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the executions, particularly regarding the absence of prior notification to the consular authorities.

An official at the Bangladeshi consulate in Jeddah said the mission had not been informed in advance that the sentences were going to be carried out.

According to the official, the consulate subsequently sent a formal diplomatic communication to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting official confirmation and clarification regarding the matter.

The diplomatic correspondence reflects the consulate’s efforts to obtain further information about the case and the circumstances surrounding the implementation of the sentences.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior’s statement provided information about the identities of the individuals, the judicial proceedings and the date and location of the executions. However, several details, including the precise location of the alleged incident and the timeline of the arrests, remain undisclosed in the publicly reported account.

The case involves allegations concerning conduct at a religious site regarded as particularly sacred in Islam. Makkah is home to the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, which surrounds the Holy Kaaba and attracts millions of Muslim pilgrims and worshippers annually.

Saudi authorities have emphasised the seriousness of the offence and the sanctity of the location in explaining the punishment. Nevertheless, the publicly available statement, as described in media reports, does not provide a detailed account of the evidence presented during the trial or the specific legal provisions under which the convictions were secured.

Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission’s request for clarification highlights the importance of communication between governments in cases involving the execution of foreign nationals.

As of the reported announcement, the Saudi authorities had not publicly identified the mosque involved or disclosed the date of the arrests. Further details may emerge following the Bangladeshi consulate’s formal request for confirmation from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.