In brief
Bangladesh officials allege they received no notice that two of their nationals were executed in Mecca for an alleged “indecent act” inside a mosque. The Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed the deaths but withheld details of the offense, citing a severe violation of mosque sanctity. Bangladesh has urged Saudi Arabia for full account of the case and potential repatriation of the bodies, emphasizing protection for its diaspora. The incident adds to a history of foreign nationals facing capital punishment in Saudi Arabia, with over 100 executions this year.
Bangladesh officials say they received no notice that two of their citizens were executed in Mecca for an alleged “indecent act” inside a mosque.
The Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed the executions on Wednesday but gave no details of the offense. It cited the death penalty under “tazir” for violating mosque sanctity.
Bangladesh has since filed a formal request to Saudi Arabia seeking full testimony of the case and options for repatriation of the bodies. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaid Islam, urged the government to protect the rights of Bangladeshis abroad.
Saudi Arabia shared a prisoners list with Bangladesh earlier, but it did not flag the death sentence. The incident adds to a pattern of foreign nationals facing capital punishment in the kingdom, with over 100 executions carried out this year according to Amnesty International.
The deaths come after a string of high‑profile cases, including the 2011 public executions of eight Bangladeshi men in Riyadh and the recent reversal of a death sentence for a Sri Lankan accused of blasphemy.
Bangladesh’s reaction underscores the need for clearer communication and legal safeguards for its diaspora living in Gulf countries.
