Article 7 of the Saudi Classified Information Penal Law
المادة 7 من نظام عقوبات نشر الوثائق والمعلومات السرية وإفشائها
Article 7 requires that proportionality and mitigating and aggravating circumstances be considered when applying the Article 5 penalty, and lists seven aggravating circumstances, including wartime and acting for a foreign state.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يراعى عند تطبيق العقوبة الواردة في المادة (الخامسة) من هذا النظام؛ التناسب بين الجريمة والعقوبة، مع مراعاة الظروف المخففة والمشددة للعقوبة، ويعد من الظروف المشددة ما يلي:
1 - إذا ارتكبت الجريمة في زمن الحرب.
2 - إذا ارتكبت الجريمة لمصلحة دولة أجنبية، أو لأحد ممن يعملون لمصلحتها بأي صورة وعلى أي وجه وبأي وسيلة، سواء بطريق مباشر، أو غير مباشر.
3 - إذا كانت الوثيقة أو المعلومة مهمة وذات درجة سرية عالية.
4 - إذا كان الضرر الذي أصاب الدولة بسبب إفشاء الوثيقة أو المعلومة السرية جسيماً.
5 - إذا ارتكبت الجريمة بقصد الإضرار بالدولة.
6 - إذا ارتكب الجريمة من يشغل وظيفة ذات طابع سري.
7 - إذا ارتكب الجريمة من يشغل وظيفة عليا.
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 7 explained in plain English
Article 5 sets a maximum penalty: imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years or a fine not exceeding one million riyals, or both. This article guides how the penalty is assessed within that limit, requiring that the following be considered:
- Proportionality between the crime and the penalty.
- Mitigating and aggravating circumstances of the penalty.
It then lists the circumstances that are considered aggravating:
- Committing the crime in wartime.
- Committing it for the benefit of a foreign state or of one of those working for its benefit, in any form, in any manner and by any means, directly or indirectly.
- The document or information being important and of a high degree of secrecy.
- The harm done to the State because of the disclosure being serious.
- Committing the crime with the intent of harming the State.
- The offender occupying a position of a confidential nature.
- The offender occupying a senior position.
Note that the article mentions mitigating circumstances without listing them, leaving their assessment to the body applying the penalty.
Paragraph 3 is related to the regulation on classified documents, which sets the degrees of secrecy under Article 1.
To assess a particular situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.
Practical example
Two employees disclosed a classified document: the first is an ordinary employee who disclosed it without intent to harm, and the second holds a senior position and disclosed a document of a high degree of secrecy. Under this article, aggravating circumstances are present in the second case, so that is considered when assessing his penalty within the limits of Article 5.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 7 of the Saudi Classified Information Penal Law
What are the aggravating circumstances in crimes of disclosing classified documents?
They include committing the crime in wartime or for a foreign state, the importance and high secrecy of the document, the seriousness of the harm, intent to harm the State, and the offender holding a position of a confidential nature or a senior position.
Are there mitigating circumstances in these crimes?
Yes. The article requires that mitigating and aggravating circumstances be considered, but it does not list the mitigating ones.
What principle governs assessing the penalty?
Proportionality between the crime and the penalty, with mitigating and aggravating circumstances considered.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Penalty for Disclosing Secrets and Classified Documents
- Article 5
Article 5 punishes with imprisonment of up to twenty years or a fine of up to one million riyals, or both, anyone who publishes classified documents and information, or obtains them by unlawful means, or destroys them, or breaches their confidentiality.
مع عدم الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد مقررة نظاماً، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على عشرين سنة أو بغرامة لا تزيد على مليون ريال أو بهما معاً، كل من: 1 - نشر وثائق أو معلومات
- Article 6
Article 6 punishes the accomplice in this Law's crimes with the Article 5 penalty, and treats as an accomplice anyone who agreed, incited or assisted knowingly if the crime was committed on that basis.
يعاقب كل من اشترك في أي من الجرائم الواردة في هذا النظام بالعقوبة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الخامسة)، ويعد شريكاً في الجريمة كل من اتفق أو حرض أو ساعد على ارتكاب
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.