Bangladesh has raised concerns with Saudi Arabia after two of its nationals were executed in Mecca without prior notification to Bangladeshi authorities.
A Bangladeshi man and woman were executed on October 14 after being convicted of committing an alleged “indecent act” inside a mosque, according to Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry.
However, Bangladeshi authorities said they learned of the executions only after they had taken place, raising questions about the lack of advance communication from Saudi officials.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, said the government had sought an explanation from Saudi Arabia regarding the offences and the legal proceedings that led to the death sentences.
Saudi authorities have not publicly specified the exact nature of the alleged offence.
According to media reports, the two individuals had appeared on a list of Bangladeshi prisoners provided by Saudi Arabia to the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah. However, the list reportedly did not indicate that they had been sentenced to death.
The executions have sparked concern in Bangladesh, where questions have been raised over why the government was not informed before the sentences were carried out.
More than three million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also raised the matter directly with the Saudi ambassador in Dhaka on October 18, seeking clarification on why its officials were not informed of the proceedings or executions.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Saudi Arabia had previously shared a list of prisoners that included the two individuals, but the list did not disclose their death sentences.
Saudi Arabia carried out the executions under ta’zir, a category of punishment under Islamic law in which judges have discretion to determine penalties.
The case comes days after Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court overturned a death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa over a social media comment following diplomatic and legal intervention by Sri Lankan authorities.
Bangladesh says it is awaiting a detailed response from Saudi Arabia before determining its next steps, including arrangements for repatriating the bodies. (Newswire)
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