MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals convicted of committing an act described by authorities as immoral inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah, in a case that has drawn international attention over the kingdom’s enforcement of Islamic law.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior identified the executed individuals as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals. The executions were carried out on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in the Makkah region, according to the ministry’s statement reported by Khaleej Times and other media outlets.
The ministry said security authorities apprehended the two following the incident. Investigations were subsequently conducted, charges were filed, and the case was referred to a competent court for trial.
According to the official account, the court found them guilty and imposed the death penalty under ta’zir, a category of discretionary punishment under Islamic law. The court reportedly cited the gravity of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the place and time in which it occurred.
The sentences were upheld by the relevant judicial authority before a royal order was issued authorising their implementation in accordance with Saudi law.
However, Saudi authorities have not publicly disclosed the precise details of the alleged act, the identity of the mosque involved, or the circumstances surrounding the arrests in the reports reviewed.
The executions have also raised diplomatic questions. Bangladesh’s Consulate General in Jeddah reportedly said it was not notified in advance and had submitted a formal diplomatic note to Saudi authorities seeking official acknowledgement of the matter, according to Bangladesh’s The Daily Star.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to enforcing Islamic law and warned that offences involving the violation of mosque sanctity would attract punishment under the country’s legal system.
The case highlights the severe criminal penalties that can be imposed under Saudi Arabia’s judicial system, while key details of the offence and the proceedings remain undisclosed publicly.
