MECCA, October 18, 2026 — Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has announced the execution of a Bangladeshi man and woman convicted of committing what the ministry described as indecent acts inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah, in a case that has drawn international attention to the kingdom’s strict enforcement of laws protecting sacred sites.
The ministry identified the two as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals. According to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), security authorities arrested the pair after they committed what the statement called immoral acts inside a mosque in Makkah, referred to in the statement as the Holy Capital.
Arrest, Trial and Sentencing
Following their arrest, investigators questioned the pair and formally accused them of committing the offence, the ministry said. The case was then referred to a competent court, which found the charges proven and sentenced both to death under ta’zir — a discretionary punishment under Islamic law applied for offences that violate public morality and the sanctity of sacred places.
The ministry said the court imposed the sentence because of the seriousness of the offence and because the defendants had violated the sanctity of both the time and the place in which it was committed. The judgment became final after it was upheld by the relevant judicial authority, and a royal order was then issued authorising the implementation of the sentence.
Executions Carried Out October 14
The executions were carried out on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in the Makkah region, according to the ministry’s statement. The announcement itself was issued the same day through the Saudi Press Agency.
In its statement, the Interior Ministry reaffirmed what it called the Saudi government’s commitment to maintaining security, upholding justice and enforcing Islamic law against those who violate the sanctity of mosques. It also warned that anyone committing similar offences would face punishment under the kingdom’s laws.
Bangladesh Seeks Clarification
The case has raised diplomatic questions. According to regional media reports, the executions were carried out without prior notification to the Bangladeshi consulate, and Bangladesh has asked Saudi authorities for clarification and additional details about the case and the circumstances of the executions.
No statement from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was available at the time of the initial reports. It remains unclear whether Saudi authorities have formally responded to Dhaka’s request.
Strict Enforcement at Holy Sites
Saudi Arabia enforces some of the world’s strictest penalties for offences committed in and around its holy sites, and death sentences issued by the kingdom’s courts regularly draw international scrutiny over trial procedures and due-process guarantees for foreign nationals.
The Interior Ministry’s statement stressed that the kingdom would continue to take legal measures against anyone who violates the sanctity of mosques, describing the punishment as a deterrent against similar offences.
