Two Bangladeshi men, identified as Nazerul Islam Abdul Bashir and Siti Akhtar, have been executed in Saudi Arabia according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior and Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as well as the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and other news sources.
The Saudi authorities said the act took place inside a mosque and was not at the time and place. But they did not disclose the exact crime committed by the two men that led to such a grave punishment.
The order was approved by the relevant authorities, and a royal order was issued. It was claimed that their execution was under ta'zir, a form of punishment under Sharia law.
What is Ta'zir under Sharia Law?
Ta'zir is a form of punishment for offences which are not subject to fixed penalties in the Quran or Hadith. It may be a relatively small punishment or a death sentence in extreme cases depending on laws and judicial interpretation.
Response From Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi Embassy in Jeddah reportedly expressed concern that it had not been notified before the executions.
The embassy also said it had filed an official note with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked for recognition of the issue.
Why Is This Concerning News?
No country in the world should have the power to execute people without a good explanation for the reason, and not when the person is foreign. Such wide-ranging powers are susceptible to abuse and pose very serious questions on transparency, accountability, and due process.
This is a threat to anyone who is visiting or living in countries that have executed without giving an explanation. Such indifference to human life and human rights in this country, which does not take into account people from Bangladesh, is questioned.
Would Saudi Arabia have taken the same action without prior notification if the individuals had come from a country with close military ties to it, like the United States?
It is well known that although Saudi Arabia is governed by Sharia law, it has also allowed some activities that are illegal under its domestic laws in certain circumstances involving foreign nationals in order to modernise its international image, promote travel and tourism, and maintain good relations with other countries.
We hope Saudi Arabia will be pressed to disclose the reasons for the executions and that such action will not be permitted without a proper public trial and due process, particularly in cases involving the death penalty.
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