Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi citizens convicted of an 'immoral act' in a mosque in Mecca. Bangladeshi diplomats demanded explanations, saying they had not received prior notification of the execution, bdnews24 reports. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The death sentences for Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar were carried out on October 14 in the Mecca region.
According to the Saudi Interior Ministry, the court imposed the death penalty taking into account the gravity of the act and the violation of the sanctity of the place. After the verdict was approved, a royal order was issued for its execution.
Saudi authorities reported an 'immoral act' inside the mosque without specifying the exact actions of the convicted. The Daily Star, citing the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission, writes about an accusation of adultery.
At the same time, versions circulating on social media that the man held his wife's hand or kissed her have not been confirmed.
The man's mother also denied reports that they were newlyweds. According to Siti's mother, the woman has a daughter from a previous relationship.
According to relatives, Nazrul came to Saudi Arabia in November 2022 and worked as a cleaner. To pay for his trip, his father borrowed 700,000 Bangladeshi taka. The family hoped that the son's earnings would help them escape poverty.
Relatives claim they were not warned about the impending execution. They learned of Nazrul's death from the media.
"Creditors are now pressuring me to repay the debt. I want my son's body returned home. If he was executed without sufficient grounds, I want justice," the father said.
The version circulating on social media that the executed were newlyweds was rejected by Nazrul's mother. According to her, her son was not married, and the family had not known about the woman before, The Business Standard writes.
On October 18, representatives of the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry met with the Saudi ambassador and handed him a copy of a diplomatic note. Dhaka requested information about the charges, the trial, and the execution of the sentences.
According to a consulate representative in Jeddah, no preliminary notifications about the trial and execution were received through diplomatic channels. Bangladeshi authorities are seeking details of the case.