Did Saudi Arabia execute a Bangladeshi couple for kissing in a mosque in Makkah?

* Muslim News investigates as Dhaka seeks answers from Riyadh

Muslim News Nigeria’s findings have revealed that viral social media claims alleging that Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals for sharing a simple kiss, or that they were a couple on honeymoon, are unsupported by the available official records.

Some blogs and social media posts went further, claiming that the pair kissed inside the Haram in Makkah, referring to the Grand Mosque surrounding the Kaaba. However, the official account cited in international media reports does not identify the location as Masjid al-Haram or state that the alleged offence involved a kiss.

Instead, Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said the two nationals, identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Siti Akhtar, were convicted of committing “immoral and obscene acts” inside a mosque in Makkah.

Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported on October 19, 2026, that Nazrul Islam’s father, Abdul Basir, said his son had gone to Saudi Arabia for work and that the family did not know the woman arrested with him. The report identifies the woman as Sweety Akhtar and says the family alleges Nazrul was arrested about six months after arriving in Saudi Arabia. He remained in detention for approximately three years and three months before his reported execution on October 14, 2026.

The ministry did not publicly specify the acts involved in its announcement, nor did the available information establish that the two individuals were married or honeymooners.

The executions reportedly took place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The case has since drawn attention in Bangladesh, where officials have sought an explanation from Saudi Arabia over the lack of advance notification.

Muslim News Nigeria’s review of the available accounts found no official evidence supporting the viral narrative that the two were executed simply for kissing. The findings distinguish the information announced by the Saudi authorities from additional details circulated online.

What Saudi authorities actually said According to reports published by Gulf News and other Middle Eastern media outlets, Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry announced that the two Bangladeshi nationals had been arrested over alleged immoral and obscene acts inside a mosque in Makkah.

The pair were subsequently investigated, charged and convicted. The court imposed the death penalty under ta’zir, a category of punishment in Islamic jurisprudence involving judicial discretion within the applicable legal framework.

The ministry said the judicial authorities had reviewed and upheld the ruling before the executions were carried out in accordance with the kingdom’s legal procedures.

It also said the executions demonstrated the government’s commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the sanctity of mosques and the dignity of others.

However, the publicly reported announcement did not specify the conduct that led to the convictions. It did not state that the offence was a forehead kiss or describe the individuals as a honeymooning couple.

Bangladesh demands explanation over executions

Bangladesh has raised concerns over Saudi Arabia’s failure to notify it in advance that the two nationals would be executed.

According to Middle East Eye, in a report published on Monday, October 19, Bangladesh’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, said the government was disappointed by the lack of communication and was seeking clarification from Riyadh.

“We have sought an explanation from our friendly bilateral partner to look into the matter and know why the gap in information sharing and exchanges happened here. We are in discussions,” Kobir told reporters at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Bangladeshi government is seeking details of the case, including the full court judgment and the circumstances that led to the death sentences.

The report said the two nationals had appeared on a list of prisoners previously shared by Saudi Arabia with Bangladesh. However, the list did not indicate that the executions were imminent.

Bangladeshi officials were also awaiting copies of the complete verdict to understand the judicial proceedings and the basis for the sentences.

The diplomatic concerns have added another dimension to the case, beyond the unverified claims circulating online.

The Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah reportedly sought comprehensive documentation following the executions amid concerns about the absence of advance notification. The request is intended to clarify the allegations against the two nationals, the judicial proceedings and the circumstances surrounding the executions.

The full judgment could provide important details that were not included in the public announcement. Until that information becomes available, the precise conduct that led to the convictions and the court’s reasoning cannot be fully assessed from the published account alone.

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