Were Bangladeshi Newlyweds Executed for Kissing in Mecca?

Claims have circulated on social media that a young Bangladeshi couple performing Umrah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, were executed for kissing within the Haram area. Some posts claim that the couple had recently married and that the Bangladeshi government was not informed of their execution in advance.

In October 2026, Bangladesh’s The Daily Star reported that two Bangladeshi nationals had been executed in Saudi Arabia. Citing a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the newspaper reported that the individuals had been executed in connection with accusations involving an “immoral act” inside a mosque.

However, the official statement did not specify exactly what act had taken place, which mosque was involved, or provide full details of the court proceedings. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to confirm that the executions were specifically carried out for kissing.

In another report published on 20 October 2026, The Daily Star cited a confidential document obtained by the Bangladesh consulate, stating that the two nationals had been in detention since August 2023.

Available public sources have not confirmed that the executed individuals were a newly married couple or that they had travelled to Saudi Arabia together to perform Umrah. Therefore, there is insufficient reliable evidence to describe them as “young newlyweds who travelled to Mecca for Umrah.”

The authenticity and relevance of the courtroom photograph circulated alongside the social media posts have also not been verified by reliable sources. Without identifying the photograph’s original source, it would be inaccurate to associate it with this case.

Bangladeshi news outlets, including bdnews24.com and Prothom Alo, have also reported on the executions, the Bangladeshi authorities’ response, and consular communications. According to these reports, the Bangladeshi side raised concerns about not being notified of the executions in advance and requested further information from Saudi authorities.

Fact-check verdict: MISLEADING.

Reports from media outlets confirm that two Bangladeshi nationals were executed in Saudi Arabia. However, reliable sources have not confirmed that they were newly married, travelled together for Umrah, or were executed specifically for kissing. The social media claim combines a reported event with details that remain unverified.