Abdulsalam Hammad
Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 after their conviction of committing an immoral act inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Ministry of Interior has confirmed.
The ministry, in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, identified the executed persons as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar.
According to the statement, security authorities arrested the pair following the incident inside a mosque in Mecca. After investigation, they were charged and referred to a competent court.
The court found them guilty and sentenced them to death under ta’zir, a category of discretionary punishment in Islamic jurisprudence. In its judgment, the court cited the seriousness of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the place and time.
The ruling was upheld on appeal by the relevant judicial authority, after which a royal order was issued authorizing the execution. The sentence was carried out in the Mecca region.
The ministry did not disclose the specific mosque where the incident occurred, the date of the incident, the date of arrest, or the precise nature of the act, describing it only as an “immoral act” and “act of indecency.”
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security, upholding justice and protecting the sanctity of holy sites.
The official added that arrangements for repatriation of the bodies would be considered after receiving a response from Saudi authorities.
The incident underscores two important principles that must be balanced: respect for the religious sanctity and laws of a host country, and the right to transparent justice and consular protection for foreign nationals.