Saudi Arabia Executes Two Bangladeshi Nationals Over Mosque Incident

Saudi Arabia has executed a Bangladeshi man and woman following an illicit sexual act inside a mosque in Mecca. The authorities classified the act as immoral, and reports indicate the two were executed without notifying the Bangladesh consulate.

The executed citizens were identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Saudi Ministry of Interior. The ministry stated that security authorities arrested the pair, and formal charges were filed following an investigation.

According to the ministry, the court determined the charges were proven and sentenced them to death under tazir—a form of discretionary punishment in Islamic law—due to the severity of the offense and the desecration of a holy site.

The statement added that the verdict became final after being approved by the competent authority, and a royal decree was issued for its execution. The executions took place in the Mecca region, and Bangladesh has requested clarifications and further details from Saudi Arabia.