Saudi Arabia has executed two people identified as Bangladeshi nationals over what authorities described as “immoral acts” inside a mosque in Mecca, triggering outrage and a diplomatic push by Bangladesh for answers.
The two were identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar. Their executions were carried out on October 14, 2026, after a court convicted them and the sentences were upheld by the relevant judicial authorities, according to reports citing Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry.
But a shocking claim circulating on social media that the pair were newlyweds executed simply for exchanging a kiss on the forehead remains unsubstantiated.
Saudi authorities have not publicly disclosed the precise nature of the alleged acts that led to the death sentences. There is also no reliable confirmation that the two were married, had travelled to Mecca for a honeymoon or kissed as an expression of gratitude to Allah.
The executions have raised further questions because Bangladesh’s consulate in Jeddah said it was not notified before the sentences were carried out.
According to Bangladeshi news outlet bdnews24.com, the consulate contacted Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels to establish the identities of the two individuals, the allegations against them and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Bangladesh subsequently raised the matter with the Saudi ambassador in Dhaka, handing him a copy of its earlier diplomatic note seeking clarification.
The case has left important questions unanswered, including the exact conduct for which the pair were convicted and why Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission says it was not informed of the proceedings or executions.
VIRAL CLAIMS UNDER SCRUTINY
A fact-check by Bangladeshi outlet The Dissent found no credible evidence supporting the viral account that the pair were newlyweds sentenced to death for a forehead kiss.
The investigation also found that claims that their bodies had been returned to Bangladesh were being circulated alongside footage that did not establish that the coffins shown contained the two executed individuals.
The story has therefore become a cautionary example of how unverified details can spread around a genuine and deeply troubling news event.
While the executions themselves have been reported by multiple news organisations, the romantic honeymoon narrative and the alleged forehead kiss cannot responsibly be presented as established facts.
For now, the confirmed account is stark enough: two people were executed in Saudi Arabia over an offence described by authorities only as an immoral act inside a mosque, while their purported home country is demanding further information about the case.
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