Article 54 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 54 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب السادس: سلطات الدولة
The Article refers to the law the affiliation of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution and its organization and powers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يبين النظام ارتباط هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام ، وتنظيمها واختصاصاتها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 54 explained in plain English
This Article is a referral Article and provides that the law sets out three matters relating to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution:
- Its affiliation: that is, the body to which the Bureau is attached.
- Its organization: that is, its composition and how it works.
- Its powers: that is, the tasks it undertakes.
The Article does not specify any of these matters itself; it does not mention the body to which the Bureau is attached, or its authorities in investigation or prosecution. It is understood from the Bureau's name in the text that it relates to the work of investigation and prosecution, while the details of that are left to the law.
The Article falls among the Articles on the judiciary in Chapter Six, "The State's Authorities", after Article 53, which refers to the law the organization of the Board of Grievances and its powers. It is followed by Article 55, which provides that the King runs the affairs of the nation in accordance with Sharia policy based on the rules of Islam, and supervises the application of Islamic Sharia, the laws and the State's general policy.
Anyone who has been accused or summoned for investigation and wants to know the procedures that apply would be well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 54 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
What does Article 54 regulate?
Article 54 provides that the law sets out the affiliation of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution and its organization and powers.
Does the Article set out the powers of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution?
No. The Article refers that to the law without mentioning the powers.
More articles on Judicial Authority and Judicial Independence
- Article 44
The Article sets out the State's three authorities, the judicial, executive and regulatory, provides that they cooperate in accordance with the laws, and states that the King is their reference.
تتكون السلطات في الدولة من : - السلطة القضائية. - السلطة التنفيذية. - السلطة التنظيمية. وتتعاون هذه السلطات في أداء وظائفها، وفقا لهذا النظام وغيره من الأنظمة،
- Article 46
The Article provides that the judiciary is an independent authority and that there is no authority over judges in their judgments other than the authority of Islamic Sharia.
القضاء سلطة مستقلة، ولا سلطان على القضاة في قضائهم لغير سلطان الشريعة الإسلامية .
- Article 47
The Article guarantees the right of litigation equally to citizens and residents of the Kingdom, and refers its procedures to the law.
حق التقاضي مكفول بالتساوي للمواطنين والمقيمين في المملكة ، ويبين النظام الإجراءات اللازمة لذلك.
- Article 48
The Article requires the courts to apply the rules of Islamic Sharia in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and the laws issued by the ruler that do not conflict with them.
تطبق المحاكم على القضايا المعروضة أمامها أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية ، وفقا لما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة، وما يصدره ولي الأمر من أنظمة لا تتعارض مع الكتاب والسنة.
- Article 49
The Article makes the courts competent to decide all disputes and crimes, subject to Article 53 on the Board of Grievances.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في المادة الثالثة والخمسين من هذا النظام، تختص المحاكم في الفصل في جميع المنازعات والجرائم.
- Article 50
The Article provides that the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with the enforcement of judicial judgments.
الملك أو من ينيبه معنيون بتنفيذ الأحكام القضائية.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.