Saudi Arabia executes two Bangladeshi nationals for 'immoral act' in mosque

Execution of sentences in the Mecca region

On 14 October, in the Mecca region, Saudi Arabia carried out the death sentences of two Bangladeshi nationals, Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Sitti Akhtar. According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the court imposed the harshest punishment, taking into account the severity of the act and the fact that it was committed in a holy site. The ministry emphasised that the decision was approved, after which a royal order was issued for its execution. However, the exact nature of the actions that served as the basis for the death penalty is not specified in the statement.

History of arrest and imprisonment

According to relatives, Saudi police arrested Nazrul and a young woman named Sitti Akhtar on charges of committing an 'immoral act' in a mosque in Mecca. Relatives stated that Nazrul arrived in the kingdom in November 2022 and worked as a cleaner. His father borrowed 700,000 Bangladeshi taka, hoping that his eldest son's earnings would help the family escape poverty. However, approximately six months after the young man's arrival, he was detained.

Nazrul spent more than three years behind bars. The deceased's mother reported that her son called home every Sunday. The family received no warnings about the upcoming execution — relatives learned of his death from the media, writes The Daily Star.

Family reaction and diplomatic measures

The deceased's father expressed disappointment and demanded justice: "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".

Nazrul's mother, Rahima Begum, is in a state of deep grief and has cried repeatedly after receiving the tragic news. Also, according to family members, his paternal aunt, Abeda Begum, died of a heart attack upon learning of her relative's death.

On 18 October, representatives of the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the Saudi ambassador and handed him a copy of a diplomatic note. Dhaka authorities requested details of the charges and the circumstances of the executions. Previously, a similar request had been sent by the country's consulate in Jeddah.

A source at the consulate told Bdnews that no information about the trial and execution had been received through diplomatic channels. Questions regarding the convicts' access to legal aid and the conditions of their defence remain unanswered publicly. Nazrul's family is asking the authorities to investigate the circumstances of his death and arrange the return of his body to his homeland.