Article 10 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 10 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 10 allows the head of State Security to impose a travel ban on a suspect, with the order put to the Prosecution within 72 hours, and the Attorney General to ban an accused person, with notice to the person optionally withheld.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لرئيس أمن الدولة منع المشتبه به في ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من السفر إلى خارج المملكة، على أن يتم عرض أمر المنع على النيابة العامة خلال مدة (72) ساعة من تاريخ إصدار الأمر أو اتخاذ أي تدابير أخرى تتعلق بسفره أو قدومه، ويجوز أن ينص في أمر المنع على عدم إبلاغه بما اتخذ في حقه متى كانت المصلحة الأمنية تتطلب ذلك.
2- للنائب العام منع المتهم في ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من السفر إلى خارج المملكة، ويجوز أن ينص في أمر المنع على عدم إبلاغه بما اتخذ في حقه متى كانت مصلحة التحقيق تتطلب ذلك.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article governs a ban on traveling outside the Kingdom in crimes under the Law, and distinguishes two stages:
- The suspect: the head of State Security may ban a suspect from traveling, provided the ban order is put to the Public Prosecution within 72 hours of the date the order is issued or any other measures relating to his or her travel or arrival are taken. The order may provide that the person is not notified where the security interest requires.
- The accused: the Attorney General may ban the accused from traveling, and the order may provide that he or she is not notified where the interest of the investigation requires.
The difference between the two cases lies in the issuing authority and the reason for not notifying: in the first it is the security interest, and in the second the interest of the investigation. In both cases not notifying is not automatic, but must be provided for in the ban order.
The article comes after Article 9, which governs precautionary seizure of funds, so both deal with precautionary measures that may be taken without the person's knowledge. Anyone who believes he or she is banned from traveling for a reason connected with this Law would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
The head of State Security issued an order banning a person suspected of a link to a terrorist entity from traveling, and the order provided that he not be notified for a security interest. This order must be put to the Public Prosecution within 72 hours of its issue.
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 10 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Is a person told of a decision banning him or her from traveling in terrorism cases?
The ban order may provide that the person is not notified, where the security interest or the interest of the investigation requires, depending on the issuing authority.
Within how long must a travel ban order be put to the Prosecution?
A ban order issued by the head of State Security is put to the Public Prosecution within 72 hours of the date it is issued or any other measures relating to his or her travel or arrival are taken.
Who may ban an accused person from traveling?
The Attorney General may ban an accused person in crimes under the Law from traveling outside the Kingdom.
More articles on Detention and Travel Ban
- Article 2
Article 2 treats all crimes under the Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law as major crimes requiring detention.
تعد الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من الجرائم الكبيرة الموجبة للتوقيف.
- Article 12
Article 12 allows the Public Prosecution to release a person detained in a crime under the Law temporarily, unless it would harm the investigation or there is fear of flight or disappearance.
للنيابة العامة الإفراج المؤقت عن أي موقوف في إحدى الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، ما لم يترتب على ذلك إضرار بمصلحة التحقيقات أو كان يخشى هربه أو اختفاؤه.
- Article 13
Article 13 allows the Head of State Security to temporarily release a person convicted of a crime under the Law while the sentence is being served, under rules and conditions set by the Regulations.
لرئيس أمن الدولة -وفق ضوابط وشروط تحددها اللائحة- الإفراج المؤقت عن المحكوم عليه في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أثناء تنفيذ العقوبة.
- Article 14
Article 14 gives the Head of State Security the power to set the rules, procedures and measures needed to ensure the security situation of persons released in crimes under the Law.
لرئيس أمن الدولة وضع ما يلزم من ضوابط وإجراءات وتدابير لضمان سلامة الوضع الأمني للمفرج عنهم في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام.
- Article 19
Article 19 lets the Public Prosecution detain an accused for periods of up to 30 days each, not exceeding 12 months in total; anything longer is referred to the competent court.
تختص النيابة العامة بإصدار أمر توقيف أي متهم في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام مدة أو مدداً متعاقبة لا يزيد أي منها على (ثلاثين) يوماً ولا تزيد في مجم
- Article 20
Article 20 allows the Public Prosecution to bar contact with or visits to the accused for up to 90 days when the interest of the investigation requires it, without prejudice to the right to notify his family of the arrest.
دون الإخلال بالحق في إبلاغ ذوي المتهم بالقبض عليه؛ للنيابة العامة أن تأمر بمنع الاتصال بالمتهم أو زيارته مدة لا تزيد على (تسعين) يوماً إذا اقتضت مصلحة التحقيق ذ
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.