- Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshis for Makkah mosque acts.
- Bangladesh seeks answers on lack of execution notification.
- Incident raises questions on judicial transparency, capital punishment.
Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals convicted of committing what authorities described as "immoral acts" inside a mosque in Makkah. Shockingly, the kingdom did not reveal the "immoral acts" before Bangladesh and media before executing both of them. This triggered questions about the severity of the punishment, judicial transparency and Bangladesh's lack of prior notification. The executions were carried out on October 14, according to a statement from the Saudi Interior Ministry published through the Saudi Press Agency.
Who were the Bangladeshi nationals?
According to Bangladeshi media, Prothomalo English, the individuals were identified as Nazerul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar. However, reports have not independently established whether the two were married to each other. According to Saudi authorities, the two individuals were arrested following the alleged incident, investigated, charged and referred to a competent court.
Harsh rules under Islamic law
The court convicted them and imposed death sentences under _ta'zir_, a category of harsh punishment under Islamic law. The ministry cited the seriousness of the alleged offence and the violation of the sanctity of the place and time. The verdicts were upheld by the relevant judicial authorities, and a royal order authorised the executions.
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However, the official statement did not specify the precise nature of the alleged acts, identify the mosque where the incident occurred or provide detailed information about the arrests and judicial proceedings.
Bangladesh seeks answers from Saudi Arabia
The case has also raised diplomatic concerns. Bangladesh's Consulate General in Jeddah reportedly said it had not been informed of the executions beforehand. After learning about the matter through media reports, the mission sought formal acknowledgement and further details from Saudi authorities, according to Prothomalo's report.
On Sunday, Bangladeshi officials sought a detailed explanation from Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Dhaka, signalling that the government wanted greater clarity about the case and the circumstances surrounding the executions, BBC reported.
The absence of advance notification has added another dimension to the controversy. While a country's laws apply to foreign nationals within its jurisdiction, consular communication remains an important part of diplomatic relations, particularly when citizens face capital punishment.
Questions beyond the sanctity of a holy site
The case extends beyond the religious significance of Makkah, one of Islam's holiest cities. It raises broader questions about the proportionality of capital punishment, transparency in judicial proceedings and the information made available to defendants, their families and their home country.
Saudi authorities have maintained that the sentences followed judicial proceedings and were authorised after the verdicts were upheld. However, the limited publicly available information makes it difficult to independently assess the specific allegations, the evidence presented in court or the circumstances in which the death penalty was imposed.
The bigger picture
The distinction is important: the alleged violation of a religious site's sanctity is one issue, while the use of capital punishment and the transparency of the legal process are separate questions that warrant scrutiny.
Saudi Arabia has long used the death penalty for a range of offences, drawing international attention and criticism from human rights advocates. In this case, the lack of publicly disclosed details has further complicated efforts to understand the legal reasoning behind the sentences.
The executions also highlight the vulnerability of migrant workers and other foreign nationals navigating unfamiliar legal systems. Access to consular assistance, clear information about legal proceedings and timely communication with diplomatic missions can be particularly significant when the consequences are irreversible.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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