Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals — a man and a woman — in the Makkah region after convicting them of committing an “indecent act” inside a mosque in Mecca, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The case has drawn worldwide attention not only for the severity of the sentence, but for the wave of false claims spreading online about what the two were accused of and who they were. Here is what is actually known — and what is not.
What Happened
On Wednesday, 14 October 2026, Saudi Arabia carried out the executions of Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar, both Bangladeshi nationals, in the Makkah region. The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the executions the same day in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
According to the statement, the two were convicted of committing an indecent act (fahisha) inside a mosque in Mecca. The death sentence — imposed under ta'zir, or discretionary punishment — was upheld after judicial review and carried out following a royal order, the ministry said. The statement did not specify the exact act, did not name the mosque, and did not state the method of execution.
What Were They Accused Of?
The official charge was fahisha — an Arabic term broadly meaning an “indecent” or “immoral” act — committed inside a mosque in Mecca. Crucially, the Interior Ministry's statement never specified what exactly the two did, and it never named the mosque where the act allegedly took place.
Some Bangladeshi media outlets have reported that an “adultery” accusation appeared on a Bangladeshi consulate detainee list — but that remains an attributed, unconfirmed report, not an official Saudi claim.
The sentence was imposed under ta'zir. In Saudi Arabia's legal system, which is based on Islamic law, ta'zir refers to discretionary punishments handed down by a judge for offences where the Quran and Sunnah do not prescribe a fixed penalty (unlike hudud offences, which carry fixed punishments). In other words, the severity of the punishment was at the court's discretion. The ministry said the death sentence reflected the gravity of the offence and the violation of the sanctity of the place of worship, and that it was carried out only after the verdict was upheld on judicial review and a royal order was issued.
Who Were the Two Bangladeshis
The two people executed were Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir, a man, and Siti Akhtar, a woman — both nationals of Bangladesh, not Saudi citizens. The Saudi statement said nothing about any relationship between them, and their relationship has never been officially stated.
The man's father, speaking to the Bangladeshi outlet Jago News 24, said the woman was not his son's wife and that the family had never known her.
The Viral Story vs The Truth
As news of the executions spread, so did a series of viral claims — nearly all of them false. Here is a fact-check of the main ones:
- The viral “couple photo” is fake. A photo of a smiling couple in Mecca, widely shared as showing the executed pair, actually shows Egyptian influencer Gehad Elbana and her husband, taken in 2024. It has nothing to do with this case.
- The viral “execution video” is fake. A video circulating as footage of this execution is from a different case dating back to 2015.
- The “executed for a kiss” and “honeymoon couple” stories are fabricated. The official statement never specified the act, never named a mosque, and never described the two as a couple.
- They were not confirmed to be a couple. Officials never said the two were married or in a relationship. The man's own father told Jago News 24 that the woman was not his son's wife and was unknown to the family.
Bangladesh's Reaction
Bangladesh was not notified in advance of the executions, according to Bangladeshi officials cited by TBS News and The Daily Star. In response, Bangladesh's consulate in Jeddah sent a note verbale — a formal diplomatic communication — to the Saudi foreign ministry.
Saudi Arabia's Execution Record
Saudi Arabia is among the world's most prolific executioners. The kingdom carries out death sentences for a wide range of offences, and the number of executions has risen sharply in recent years, drawing repeated criticism from human rights organisations. This case is unusual, however, in that the death penalty was imposed under ta'zir for an offence described only as an “indecent act” in a place of worship.
FAQs
Who were the two people executed by Saudi Arabia in October 2026?
Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir (a man) and Siti Akhtar (a woman), both Bangladeshi nationals. They were executed in the Makkah region on 14 October 2026.
What were they accused of?
The Saudi Interior Ministry said they committed an “indecent act” (fahisha) inside a mosque in Mecca. The statement never specified the exact act or named the mosque.
Were the two married or a couple?
That was never stated officially. The man's father told Jago News 24 that the woman was not his son's wife and the family had never known her.
Was Bangladesh informed before the executions?
No. Bangladeshi officials said the country was not notified in advance; its consulate in Jeddah later sent a note verbale to the Saudi foreign ministry.
Is the viral photo of the “couple” real?
No. The widely shared photo shows Egyptian influencer Gehad Elbana and her husband (2024), not the executed pair. A viral “execution video” is likewise from an unrelated 2015 case.
Sources
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — Saudi Ministry of Interior statement, 14 October 2026
- BBC
- Associated Press
- Al Jazeera
- Gulf News
- The Times
- TBS News / The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
- Jago News 24