Bangladesh says it was not informed of its citizens' execution by Saudi Arabia

Bangladeshi authorities say they were not informed of the recent execution of two Bangladeshi nationals in the holy city of Mecca until after it had taken place, local media reports.

A Bangladeshi man and woman were executed last Wednesday after being convicted of committing an "indecent act" inside a mosque, according to the Saudi interior ministry. The ministry did not specify the nature of the offending act.

Bangladesh says it has reached out to the Saudi Arabian government to ask for more details about the case.

The two Muslim countries share a close relationship due to their religious affinity and strong economic ties.

More than three million Bangladeshis work and live in Saudi Arabia, mostly in low-paying jobs, and news of the double execution has raised public concern in Bangladesh.

According to the Saudi interior ministry, the two Bangladeshi nationals were convicted and sentenced to death under "tazir", which in Islamic law refers to punishments left to the discretion of the judge.

The ministry statement said they were handed the sentences because of the severity of the offence, and the fact that they violated the "sanctity" of the mosque.

Source: BBC News World RSS (Open Press / Full Text)