Saudi Arabia executes 2 Bangladeshis over ‘indecent acts’ in holy city of Mecca

Saudi Arabia has executed two Bangladeshi nationals, a man and a woman, after they were convicted of committing “indecent acts” in a mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

Bangladesh said it was not informed before the sentences were carried out and has sought information from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Interior Ministry said the Bangladeshis were executed because of “the gravity and seriousness of their actions in violating the sanctity of both time and place”. It did not elaborate.

Also on Monday, Saudi authorities sent brief alerts to residents of the capital Riyadh, with Agence France-Presse journalists receiving phone messages warning of “a hostile aerial threat” weeks into intensified Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

Hours later, Yemen’s Houthis claimed a series of missile and drone attacks on Riyadh’s international airport and other targets across Saudi Arabia over the past two days.