By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Global outrage has erupted after Saudi Arabia executed a couple for allegedly engaging in sexual acts inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
Gory videos of the execution have circulated on social media sparking outrage by concerned citizens of the world.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior in a statement on Wednesday, October 15, 2026, confirmed the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals — identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, a man and a woman — in Makkah.
The statement confirmed that the pair were arrested by security personnel after they were caught committing indecent acts inside a mosque. They were subsequently charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.
The court reportedly imposed the death penalty under ta’zir — discretionary Islamic jurisprudence — citing the gravity of the offence and the desecration of a sacred place of worship.
The sentence was upheld on appeal and a Royal Order issued for its execution on October 14.
BANGLADESH PROTESTS
In its reaction, however, the execution has sparked diplomatic tension after the Bangladeshi government said it was never informed. Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Saudi Ambassador to Dhaka, Abdullah Zafer Bin Abiyah, and handed him a note verbale demanding full details of the case.
“The embassy in Riyadh was not informed about the legal proceedings, nor were the families,” a Foreign Ministry official said, adding that Dhaka only learnt about the execution after it had been carried out.
The development has triggered outrage among human rights groups, who described the punishment as disproportionate and criticized Saudi Arabia’s continued use of capital punishment for non-lethal offences.Saudi Arabia has executed over 200 people this year, one of the highest rates in the world.
As of press time, the bodies of the executed nationals have been returned to Bangladesh and handed over to their families. The bodies were also cremated.
