Saudi Arabia executes Bangladeshi couple over 'immoral acts' inside a Mecca mosque, Dhaka says it was not informed
The man was identified as Nazrul Islam Basir and the woman was Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals. It is not confirmed if the couple was married to each other
Saudi Arabia executed a Bangladeshi couple, identified as Nazrul Islam Basir and Siti Akhtar, for committing immoral acts inside a mosque in Mecca. The executions were carried out under ta'zir discretionary punishment after a court convicted the duo and a royal order was issued. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah stated it was not notified in advance and has formally requested clarification from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Saudi Arabia executed a Bangladeshi couple, identified as Nazrul Islam Basir and Siti Akhtar, for committing immoral acts inside a mosque in Mecca. The executions were carried out under ta'zir discretionary punishment after a court convicted the duo and a royal order was issued. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah stated it was not notified in advance and has formally requested clarification from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Saudi Arabia executed a Bangladeshi couple, identified as Nazrul Islam Basir and Siti Akhtar, for committing immoral acts inside a mosque in Mecca. The executions were carried out under ta'zir discretionary punishment after a court convicted the duo and a royal order was issued. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah stated it was not notified in advance and has formally requested clarification from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday executed a Bangladeshi couple for committing "immoral acts" inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca, according to the Saudi interior ministry.
The man was identified as Nazrul Islam Basir and the woman was Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals. It is not confirmed if the couple was married to each other.
However, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah said it had not been notified of the executions beforehand and had formally sought acknowledgement of the matter from Saudi authorities.
"The consulate was not notified by the ministry beforehand," an official of the diplomatic mission told Dhaka-based The Daily Star. "In this regard, we have submitted a note verbale to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting formal acknowledgement of the matter."
The interior ministry stated that following an investigation, the couple was charged and referred to a competent court. The court convicted the duo and sentenced them to death, citing the seriousness of the crime and violation of the sanctity of the place and time.
The sentence was passed under ta'zir, a discretionary punishment under Islamic law. Following this, the relevant judicial authorities upheld the verdict and a royal order was issued to carry out the sentences. The two Bangladeshis were executed in the Mecca region on October 14, according to the ministry.
The interior ministry said the Saudi government is committed to maintaining security, upholding justice and enforcing Islamic law against those who violate the sanctity of mosques. It also warned that anyone committing such offences would face punishment as per the laws of the kingdom.