Saudi Arabias execution of Bangladeshis sparks outrage: Families await bodies, seek answers from governments

PTC News Desk: Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have strong religious, economic and labour ties. However, relations between the two countries are facing tension after Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals last week without informing Dhaka in advance, according to Bangladeshi officials.

The executions took place on October 14. Bangladesh officials are seeking an explanation from Saudi authorities about the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Dhaka has requested copies of the court verdicts, details of the offences and clarification on why its diplomatic mission was not informed beforehand.

Saudi Arabia has not publicly responded to these requests, sparking anger in Bangladesh. Many people are demanding answers from their government over its failure to protect its citizens.

Saudi authorities announced that the two nationals, Sweety Akhtar and Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir, had been executed after being convicted of acts described as immoral. The announcement triggered outrage in Bangladesh, particularly after its diplomatic mission said it had received no prior notification.

Who was Sweety Akhtar ?

Sweety’s family reportedly learnt about her execution through other people and Facebook, even though they had remained in contact with her while she was in prison.

Her father said he last spoke to her on October 13, a day before the execution. During that conversation, she did not mention that she had been sentenced to death.

Sweety’s cousin, Salma Akhtar, told Prothom Alo that difficulties in her married life and her family’s financial problems had led her to look for work abroad.

Sweety had a daughter who is now nine years old and studies in Class 3 at a local primary school, according to Prothom Alo. However, The Daily Star quoted her mother as saying the child was four years old.

Allegations against two Bangladeshis

According to Saudi authorities, the two were arrested and sentenced to death over an alleged indecent act inside a mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

The Saudi statement did not specify what the act involved, which mosque was involved or when the arrests took place. It said they were sentenced under ta’zir, a category of punishment in Islamic law in which judges have discretion over the offence and the penalty.

Several media reports claimed that Nazrul and Sweety were allegedly caught kissing inside the mosque. Some social media posts claimed that it was only a kiss on the forehead. These details have not been independently confirmed.

While Saudi Arabia described the offence as an “immoral act”, the families have alleged that there may have been a conspiracy behind the case.

Nazrul was in prison for months: Family

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Nazrul’s family said he was arrested around eight months after arriving in Saudi Arabia and remained in prison thereafter. His family learnt about the arrest approximately a month later.

Nazrul was occasionally allowed to speak to his parents over the phone for a few minutes. Their last conversation took place on October 11 and lasted around two-and-a-half minutes.

At approximately 7:30 pm Bangladesh time on October 14, someone from Saudi Arabia reportedly called the family and informed them that Nazrul had been executed.

Both families are now waiting for the bodies to be returned and are seeking answers from the Bangladesh government.

Question over consular rules

Experts have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s failure to inform Bangladesh before carrying out the executions. They have pointed to Article 37(a) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which requires authorities, where relevant information is available, to inform the appropriate consular post without delay when a foreign national dies.

However, the convention does not explicitly establish a general requirement for advance notification before an execution. The question of whether specific consular obligations were breached will depend on the circumstances and applicable legal provisions.