Article 15 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 15 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 15 allows criminal investigation officers and military personnel assigned to combat crimes under the Law to use force to apprehend those crimes, under the rules set by law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لرجال الضبط الجنائي أو العسكريين المكلفين بمكافحة الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام في سبيل ضبط أي من تلك الجرائم استعمال القوة وفقاً للضوابط المنصوص عليها نظاماً.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article deals with the use of force while combating the crimes set out in the Law.
Its elements can be summarized as follows:
- Who may do so: criminal investigation officers, or military personnel assigned to combat these crimes.
- Purpose: the use of force must be for the purpose of apprehending any of the crimes under the Law.
- Restriction: it must be under the rules set by law.
The article does not grant an absolute power; it ties the power to the purpose and to the legal rules. The article itself does not state these rules and does not specify the permitted degrees of force; it refers to what is set out in the laws.
This article follows Article 14, on the rules for the security situation of released persons, and precedes Article 16, which regulates the request for compensation by a person harmed by the accused or convicted before a settlement committee.
A person who has suffered harm and believes force was used outside the legal rules should 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 15 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
May security personnel use force to arrest terrorism suspects?
Yes. The article allows criminal investigation officers and the assigned military personnel to use force to apprehend crimes under the Law, under the rules set by law.
Is the use of force unrestricted?
No. The article restricts it to the purpose of apprehending the crime and to the rules set by law.
More articles on Arrest and Search in Terrorism Crimes
- Article 4
Article 4 gives the Presidency of State Security the tasks of criminal arrest and evidence gathering, financial investigation and tracing a suspect's funds and the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime under the Law.
تتولى رئاسة أمن الدولة مهام الضبط الجنائي والاستدلال بما في ذلك البحث والتحري والضبط والملاحقة الجنائية والإدارية وجمع الأدلة والقرائن والتحري المالي والعمليات
- Article 5
Article 5 gives the Public Prosecution the power to issue a summons or an arrest and bring order against a suspect, and bars keeping an arrested person detained more than 7 days without a written order.
تختص النيابة العامة بإصدار تكليف بالحضور أو أمر بالقبض والإحضار على من يشتبه في ارتكابه أيًّا من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام. وفي جميع الأحوال لا يجوز إبقاء
- Article 6
Article 6 lets the Public Prosecution, and the Presidency of State Security at the evidence-gathering stage, request records and information from any person or institution, and requires fast, accurate execution and confidentiality.
1- للنيابة العامة -من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب رجل الضبط الـجنائي- أن تطلب من أي شخص أو من المؤسسات المالية، أو الأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، أو المنظ
- Article 7
Article 7 gives the Public Prosecution the power to authorize entering and searching homes, offices and buildings, and arrest and seizure, and allows acting without authorization in necessity with a record and notice to the Prosecution within 24 hours.
1- تختص النيابة العامة بإصدار إذن بدخول المساكن أو المكاتب أو المباني وتفتيشها في أي وقت خلال المدة المحددة في إذن التفتيش والقبض على الأشخاص وضبط وتحريز الأموا
- Article 8
Article 8 allows the Attorney General to issue a reasoned order to monitor, access, intercept, seize and record evidence, records, messages, means of communication and electronic information linked to crimes under the Law.
للنائب العام أن يصدر أمراً مُسبباً بالمراقبة والوصول إلى الأدلة والسجلات والرسائل -بما فيها الخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود وسائر وسائل الاتصال والمعلومات والمستندا
- Article 17
Article 17 requires Customs, when terrorist financing is suspected, to seize currency, bearer instruments, gold, precious metals, gems and jewelry whatever their value, and refer them and their carrier immediately.
مع عدم الإخلال بالأحكام ذات الصلة بمصلحة الجمارك العامة الواردة في نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال؛ تقوم المصلحة -عند الاشتباه بوجود حالة تمويل الإرهاب- بحجز ما يشتبه ب
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.