Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, a man and a woman, convicted of committing what authorities described as “indecent acts” inside a mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.
Bangladesh said it was not notified before the executions and has sought clarification from Saudi authorities over the circumstances surrounding the case.
The Saudi Interior Ministry announced the executions, citing what it called the gravity of the offences and the violation of the sanctity of both time and place.
“The gravity and seriousness of their actions in violating the sanctity of both time and place,” the ministry said, without providing further details about the alleged acts or the judicial proceedings.
The announcement has raised questions over the lack of prior notification to Dhaka, although details of Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagement with Riyadh were not immediately available.
The executions were reported on October 20, 2026, but neither the Saudi statement nor the information released by Bangladesh provided further details about the identities of the individuals, the date of their convictions or the specific circumstances of the incident.
Mecca, home to the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba, is Islam’s most sacred city and attracts millions of Muslim pilgrims annually.
Saudi Arabia applies strict laws governing conduct at religious sites, where authorities place particular emphasis on preserving the sanctity of worship.
Further details about the case, including the legal basis for the convictions and whether appeals were pursued, were not disclosed in the available reports.