Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals convicted of having sex inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca, according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior.
The ministry identified the man and woman as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar in a statement issued on Wednesday, adding that the executions were carried out in the Makkah region.
According to the ministry, security authorities arrested the pair following the incident, and investigations led to charges being filed against them. A competent court subsequently found them guilty and sentenced them to death under Ta’zir, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law.
The ministry said the court considered the gravity of the offence and the violation of the mosque’s sanctity before imposing the sentences. It added that the verdict was upheld by the relevant judicial authority before a royal order authorised the executions.
However, the ministry did not identify the mosque where the incident occurred or disclose when the two Bangladeshis were arrested.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah said it had not been informed of the executions beforehand and had contacted Saudi authorities to seek formal acknowledgement of the matter.
“The consulate was not notified by the ministry beforehand,” the diplomatic mission told The Daily Star in response to an inquiry.
The consulate said it had submitted a diplomatic note, known as a note verbale, to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting formal acknowledgement of the executions.
Saudi Arabia executes two Bangladeshis convicted of sex in Mecca mosque