Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals, a man and a woman, on October 14, 2026, following their conviction for what authorities described as an indecent act inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah.
The individuals were identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the two were arrested, investigated and subsequently convicted by a competent court. Their death sentences were issued under ta'zir, a form of discretionary punishment under Islamic law. The sentences were upheld through the judicial process and implemented following a royal order.
However, the ministry did not publicly disclose the precise nature of the act, identify the mosque or provide the full evidence presented during the trial.
Were They Husband and Wife?
The case has generated widespread controversy on social media, with several posts describing the two Bangladeshis as newlyweds who were executed merely for kissing near the Kaaba.
However, these claims have not been substantiated by official records.
According to subsequent reporting, Nazrul Islam's father disputed claims that the woman was his son's wife and said the family did not know her.
Bangladeshi reporting has also referred to allegations of adultery in connection with the case, but the publicly available Saudi statement does not provide sufficient details to independently establish the exact conduct involved.
Claims that the two maintained a romantic relationship for several years, repeatedly engaged in sexual activity inside a mosque or were identified through CCTV footage have not been independently verified.
Viral Kaaba Photographs and Execution Videos Misleading
Fact-checking investigations have established that some photographs and videos circulating alongside the execution reports are unrelated to the two Bangladeshis.
A widely shared photograph showing a man kissing a pregnant woman's belly near the Kaaba was traced to an Egyptian couple whose images appeared online in December 2024.
Separately, a graphic execution video circulated as purported footage of the Bangladeshis' deaths was traced to an unrelated execution in Saudi Arabia in January 2015.
These findings demonstrate that the viral material cannot be treated as evidence of the alleged offence or the executions.
Bangladesh Seeks Clarification
The executions have also raised questions in Bangladesh over diplomatic notification and legal procedures.
According to Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah said it had not received advance notification of the executions and subsequently sought formal clarification from Saudi authorities.
The case has drawn attention to the treatment of foreign nationals within Saudi Arabia's criminal justice system and the transparency of capital punishment proceedings.
What Remains Unclear?
Despite widespread online speculation, several important questions remain unanswered, including the exact nature of the offence, the location of the mosque, the evidence presented during the trial and the relationship between the two individuals.
The confirmed facts are that two Bangladeshi nationals were executed following convictions relating to an indecent act inside a mosque in Makkah. Claims about their marriage, a prolonged sexual relationship, CCTV evidence or a simple kiss as the reason for their executions should not be presented as established facts without further documentary evidence.
