Bangladesh has said it was not informed of the execution of two of its citizens in Saudi Arabia until after the sentences had been carried out, according to local media reports, raising concerns over communication between the two countries.
The Bangladeshi man and woman were executed last Wednesday after being convicted of committing an “indecent act” inside a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry said. The ministry did not disclose the nature of the alleged act, describing it as a serious offence that violated the sanctity of the place of worship. No further details about the defendants were released.
According to the ministry, security officers arrested the two individuals, investigated the case and referred it to a court. The court found the charges proven and sentenced them to death under ta’zir, a category of punishment in Islamic law that allows judicial discretion.
Gulf News reported that the verdicts became final after the relevant judicial authority upheld them, and a royal order subsequently approved the executions. The ministry warned that violations of the sanctity of mosques would attract punishment. The Associated Press reported that the statement referred to the sanctity of both time and place, while Khaleej Times said it also mentioned offences against the honour of others.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, said the government had contacted Saudi authorities to seek information about the offences and the legal proceedings. She said Dhaka would consider further steps, including the possible repatriation of the bodies, after receiving details from the Saudi government.
Islam also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to protecting the welfare and interests of its citizens living abroad.
The Daily Star reported that the two individuals appeared on a list of prisoners shared by Saudi Arabia with Bangladesh following a request from the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah. However, the list did not indicate that either person had been sentenced to death.
The executions have drawn public concern in Bangladesh, which maintains close religious and economic ties with Saudi Arabia. More than three million Bangladeshis live and work in the kingdom, many employed in low-paying jobs.
The Saudi interior ministry did not identify a specific statute under which the two were convicted. It said the sentences were imposed under ta’zir, which allows judges to determine punishments for offences not covered by fixed penalties.
Islamic law broadly distinguishes between hadd, which prescribes penalties for specific offences; qisas, which concerns retribution, including in cases of killing; and ta’zir, under which judges exercise discretion over the punishment. MENA Rights Group and other rights organisations describe ta’zir as allowing judicial discretion where the offence and penalty are not prescribed in advance.
The case comes amid continued scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s use of capital punishment. Amnesty International has reported that the kingdom has executed around 100 people this year, including numerous foreign nationals convicted of drug-related offences.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and is based on information available in the public domain.
