“They carried out the executions and didn’t even give notice” ... Man and woman executed for alleged obscene acts at a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

[Financial News] Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, a man and a woman, over alleged inappropriate acts inside a mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. The executions, carried out swiftly without prior notice, have sparked diplomatic tensions, with the Bangladeshi government protesting and demanding an official explanation.
On the 16th (local time), Gulf News and Bangladeshi media outlets including Prothom Alo reported that Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that it had carried out the executions of Bangladeshi nationals Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Siti Akhtar in the Mecca region on the 14th.
The two were charged with committing obscene and immoral acts inside a mosque in the city of Mecca. A Saudi court ruled that their acts were a serious crime that severely violated the sanctity of a religious institution. It applied the Ta'zir provision under Islamic law (Sharia), which allows judges discretion in determining punishments, and sentenced them to death. The ruling was finalized after approval by higher judicial authorities and the king’s execution order.
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said it was “determined to uphold security and justice by strictly applying the law and Sharia to those who violate the sanctity of mosques and the dignity of others,” and stressed that “anyone who commits similar acts will face severe punishment under the laws of the Kingdom.” However, Saudi authorities have not disclosed details of the case, including what specific acts the two committed or when they were arrested.
The Bangladeshi government immediately protested. The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah said it learned of the executions only through media reports and sent an official diplomatic note to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry seeking confirmation of the facts and an account of what happened.
Both countries are parties to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which requires that a country’s consulate be notified without delay when one of its foreign nationals is arrested or detained. A Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry official expressed doubt, saying, “It is difficult to understand how the death sentences were carried out so unusually quickly after the arrest of two of our citizens, without consular assistance or even contact with a lawyer.”
Saudi Arabia has faced fierce international criticism for carrying out executions widely not only for violent crimes but also for drug trafficking and religious blasphemy. Last year, it executed at least 347 people, setting a record for the highest number ever. The UN and other international human rights organizations have raised concerns about opaque judicial procedures and harsh punishments, but the Saudi government maintains that it is enforcing the law legitimately under its own legal system.

[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter