KSA executes 2 Bangladeshis for ‘immoral act’

Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals on Wednesday after convicting them of what authorities described as an “immoral act” inside a mosque in Makkah.

The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah said it had not been notified of the executions beforehand and had formally sought acknowledgement from Saudi authorities.

“The consulate was not notified by the Ministry beforehand,” a mission official told the media via WhatsApp yesterday.

“In this regard, we have submitted a note verbale to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting formal acknowledgement of the matter,” the official said.

The executed Bangladeshis were identified as Nazerul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, according to a statement issued on October 14 by the Saudi Ministry of Interior and carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The ministry said Saudi security authorities arrested the two and subsequently brought charges against them following an investigation. They were then referred to a competent court.

According to the ministry, the court found the charges proven and sentenced them to death under ta’zir, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law, citing the gravity of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the time and place.