Article 4 of the Saudi Classified Information Penal Law
المادة 4 من نظام عقوبات نشر الوثائق والمعلومات السرية وإفشائها
Article 4 prohibits taking classified documents out of government bodies, exchanging them, keeping them outside their designated places, and printing, copying or photographing them outside government bodies, except under the National Center for Documents and Archives' controls.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر إخراج الوثائق السرية من الجهات الحكومية، أو تبادلها مع الغير بأي وسيلة كانت، أو الاحتفاظ بها في غير الأماكن المخصصة لحفظها، وتحظر طباعتها أو نسخها أو تصويرها خارج الجهات الحكومية؛ إلا وفق ضوابط يصدرها المركز الوطني للوثائق والمحفوظات.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article deals with the physical handling of classified documents, and prohibits several acts:
- Taking classified documents out of government bodies.
- Exchanging them with others by any means; this wording is broad and covers paper and electronic means.
- Keeping them outside the places designated for keeping them.
- Printing, copying or photographing them outside government bodies.
The prohibition is not absolute, as the article excepts what is done under controls issued by the National Center for Documents and Archives. The text does not state the content of these controls, so anyone who needs to take out or copy a document for a practical purpose refers to those controls.
Classified documents means what Article 1 defined: containers of all kinds holding information whose disclosure would harm the State's national security, interests, policies or rights.
Paragraph 6 of Article 5 punishes anyone who fails to preserve the confidentiality of information and documents, with imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years or a fine not exceeding one million riyals, or both.
To assess a particular situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.
Practical example
An employee at a government body in Dammam wanted to finish overdue work at home, so he took a classified document home with him and printed a copy of it there. This act amounts to taking the document out of the body and printing it outside, which this article prohibits unless it is done under the controls of the National Center for Documents and Archives.
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 4 of the Saudi Classified Information Penal Law
May I take a classified document from work to my home?
No. The article prohibits taking classified documents out of government bodies and keeping them outside the places designated for keeping them, except under the controls of the National Center for Documents and Archives.
Does the prohibition cover sending the document electronically?
The article prohibits exchanging classified documents with others by any means.
May classified documents be photographed inside the government body?
The article prohibits printing, copying and photographing outside government bodies except under the Center's controls, and does not expressly address photographing inside the body.
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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.