Secret Executions and Violations of International Law
By Asif Showkat Kallol (Dhaka Bureau),
Serious allegations of violating international human rights law and the Vienna Convention have been raised against Saudi Arabia following the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals without any prior notice or diplomatic notification. Legal experts, former diplomats, and human rights activists in Bangladesh have expressed deep outrage over this covert execution, describing it as a severe blow to the fundamental rights and security of migrant workers.
According to local reports and media coverage, the two Bangladeshi men were put to death in Mecca recently after being convicted of alleged ‘immoral acts.’ However, what has sparked the most concern is that the entire judicial process and execution took place entirely without the knowledge of the Bangladeshi government. Dhaka only learned of the executions after the news broke in the media, marking a clear breach of international protocols.
Severe Breach of the Vienna Convention and Consular Safeguards
According to legal experts and human rights analysts, Riyadh’s silence directly violates Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The treaty entitles any detained foreign national to contact and receive assistance from their country’s diplomatic mission.
Ishrat Hasan, a prominent lawyer at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, noted:
‘On paper, every detained foreign national has the right to consular access. However, these two individuals apparently received no legal or diplomatic assistance. An impartial international investigation must determine why and through whose negligence this right was denied.’
Kazi Zahed Iqbal, another Supreme Court lawyer, emphasized that while the executed sentences cannot be undone, Bangladesh must take a firm stance against the breach of diplomatic protocol and demand formal compensation.
The Cost of Silence: A Contrast with Sri Lanka
Former diplomats point out that this tragedy highlights the fatal consequences of lacking timely diplomatic access. Describing the deaths as tragic, former Ambassador Mahfuzur Rahman noted that two citizens who traveled abroad for work ended up paying with their lives, while the state of Bangladesh remained entirely in the dark.
Experts contrast this case with a recent incident involving a Sri Lankan national. A Saudi court had sentenced a Sri Lankan citizen to death under blasphemy laws, but following immediate and vigorous diplomatic intervention by the Sri Lankan government, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court overturned the verdict. This contrast demonstrates that timely diplomatic engagement can save lives- a chance Bangladesh was never afforded in this instance.
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Migrant Workers
International Press Agency Pressenza consistently stands against all forms of violence, state secrecy, and violations of fundamental human rights. While migrant workers serve as a core engine of the global economy, their basic legal safeguards remain severely overlooked in the judicial systems of the Middle East.
If the practice of executing individuals in secret without notice continues, the lives of millions of migrant workers across the globe will be placed in extreme jeopardy. Experts urge the Bangladeshi government not to limit its response to official letters, but to demand full case files, insist on accountability from the officials involved, and formally raise the issue in international forums.
Saudi authorities have yet to issue an official response to the criticism. The lack of transparency surrounding the identities of the two executed men and the evidence against them leaves a major question mark over the preservation of international human rights.
