Why did Saudi Arabia execute a Bangladeshi couple for an ‘obscene act’ in a Mecca mosque? Why Dhaka is looking for answers | Today’s news
Saudi Arabia executed a Bangladeshi man and woman on October 14 after a court convicted them of committing “indecent acts” inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
The executions have raised questions from Bangladesh, which says it was not informed in advance and is demanding an explanation from Riyadh.
The Saudi Interior Ministry said the court sentenced both to death under ta’zir, a category of punishment under Islamic law that gives judges discretion in determining offenses and punishments.
However, the ministry did not specify what the alleged acts were, identify the mosque where they took place, or say when the two were arrested. Gulf News reported that the verdicts were upheld by the relevant judicial authority before the royal order authorized the executions.
What did Saudi Arabia say about the executions?
According to a statement by the Saudi Ministry of Interior, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the security authorities detained the two persons, investigated the case and referred them to the relevant court.
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The court found them guilty and imposed death sentences, citing the gravity of the crime, the sanctity of the mosque and the circumstances in which the acts took place, Gulf News reported.
The ministry reportedly identified the two as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals.
While several outlets described them as a couple, The Week noted that it has not been confirmed whether they were married.
The ministry did not identify the specific statutory provision under which they were convicted. It warned that those who violate the sanctity of mosques or commit similar offenses will face punishment under Saudi law.
Why is Bangladesh looking for answers?
Bangladesh has expressed disappointment at the lack of advance notice and is seeking details of the case and the circumstances of the executions.
According to The Daily Star, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah said it had not been informed in advance and sent a diplomatic note to Saudi authorities asking for formal confirmation of the matter.
Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir also expressed disappointment at the lack of communication and said Dhaka was seeking an explanation, according to The Indian Express.
Saudi authorities have not released further details about the alleged acts or whether the two individuals had legal representation.
What is ta’zir according to Islamic law?
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said the sentences were imposed based on ta’zir, a form of punishment that allows for judicial discretion rather than prescribing a fixed penalty for each crime.
Islamic criminal law is commonly described through three broad categories:
Let: Offenses for which traditional interpretations of Islamic law prescribe specific punishments.
Revenge: Retributive justice, generally involving crimes such as murder or assault.
Ta’zir: Offenses for which punishment is determined at the discretion of the court, not predetermined according to traditional rules.
According to the MENA Rights Group quoted by The Indian Express, Saudi Arabia does not have a fully codified criminal code, leaving judges considerable latitude in interpreting Islamic law and determining criminal penalties.
Human Rights Watch noted in a 2008 report that ta’zir offenses accounted for the majority of criminal cases in Saudi Arabia and that judges were not bound by past judgments in the same way as in a system of binding precedents.
In this case, the Saudi ministry invoked ta’zir, but did not disclose the specific legal reasoning behind the death sentences.
Limited public awareness makes it difficult to independently assess how the court reached its decision.
