Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, a man and a woman, after convicting them of committing what authorities described as an indecent sexual act inside a mosque in Makkah.
Quoting Saudi interior ministry, reports said the duo were sentenced to death after a court found them guilty of violating the sanctity of the mosque.
The sentences were upheld and approved by royal order before being carried out on Wednesday.
Authorities did not specify the exact nature of the act or provide further details about the circumstances of the case.
However, the Bangladesh consulate general in Jeddah said it had not been notified of the executions beforehand and had formally sought acknowledgement of the matter from Saudi authorities.
“The consulate was not notified by the ministry beforehand,” in response to our query, the mission told The Daily Star today.
“In this regard, we have submitted a note verbale to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting formal acknowledgement of the matter,” the mission said.
The two executed Bangladeshis were identified as Nazerul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, according to a statement issued by the Saudi ministry of interior on Wednesday and published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The ministry said Saudi security authorities arrested the two and an investigation subsequently led to charges being brought against them. They were then referred to a competent court.
According to the ministry, the court found the charges proven and sentenced them to death under “ta’zir”, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law, citing the gravity of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the time and place.
The verdict became final after being upheld by the relevant authority, and a royal order was issued for its implementation, the statement said.
The executions were carried out in the Makkah region.
