Bangladesh was unaware of the execution of two of its citizens in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, over alleged “immoral” acts at a mosque, learning of the matter only through media reports.
The Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah subsequently wrote to the Saudi foreign ministry on Thursday, seeking details of the executions, according to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka and the consulate.
A consular source said on Friday afternoon that Saudi authorities had not formally notified Bangladesh before carrying out the executions. The consulate learned of the matter through media reports and then sought an official explanation from the Saudi foreign ministry.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing the country's Interior Ministry, confirmed the executions on Wednesday. The two Bangladeshis were identified as Nazrul Islam and Sweety Akhtar.
Middle East-based news outlet Gulf News reported that Saudi security forces had arrested the two over allegations of engaging in immoral and indecent acts at a mosque in Makkah.
According to the report, they were charged following an initial investigation and referred to court. The court sentenced them to death under ta'zir, a category of discretionary punishment under Sharia law. The judge reportedly considered the violation of the mosque's sanctity and the circumstances of the alleged offence when delivering the verdict.
Higher judicial authorities later upheld the verdict, making it final, before a royal order was issued for the executions.
In a statement, the Saudi Interior Ministry reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the sanctity of the holy mosques, upholding justice and enforcing Sharia law against those who violate religious sanctity. It also warned that similar offences at holy sites would attract severe punishment.
Private sources in Saudi Arabia said the trial had been underway at a court in Jeddah for several months. Two prominent Bangladeshi citizens reportedly assisted in the proceedings as interpreters.
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are both parties to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Under Article 36, if a foreign national is arrested, the detaining country must inform the person's consulate without delay if the detainee requests it and facilitate consular communication and assistance.
It remains unclear whether the two Bangladeshis had requested that the Bangladeshi consulate be notified.
Several officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the executions were unlikely to have taken place immediately after the arrests, given the judicial process involved. They also questioned why no one acting on behalf of the two had contacted the Bangladeshi mission during their detention.
No information has yet emerged about the nature or duration of the two Bangladeshis' stay in Saudi Arabia, or whether they received legal assistance or had an opportunity to appeal during the proceedings.