Article 16 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 16 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 16 allows a person harmed by the accused or convicted in crimes under the Law to request compensation from the Head of State Security before going to court; a settlement committee decides within 90 days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لمن أصابه ضرر من المتهمين أو المحكوم عليهم في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، أن يتقدم إلى رئيس أمن الدولة بطلب التعويض قبل التقدم إلى المحكمة المختصة، وتنظر في الطلب لجنة تسوية تشكل لهذا الغرض بقرار من الرئيس لا يقل أعضاؤها عن ثلاثة يكون من بينهم مستشار شرعي ومستشار نظامي، وتصدر قرارات اللجنة بالأغلبية خلال مدة لا تتجاوز تسعين يوماً من تاريخ تقديم الطلب، ويحدد رئيس أمن الدولة قواعد عمل اللجنة.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article regulates an amicable route for requesting compensation before going to court. The right belongs to a person harmed by the accused or convicted in a crime under the Law.
Its provisions are as follows:
- The request is submitted to the Head of State Security, before going to the competent court, which under Article 1 is the Specialized Criminal Court.
- The request is considered by a settlement committee formed by a decision of the Head of State Security, with no fewer than three members, including a Sharia adviser and a legal adviser.
- The committee's decisions are issued by majority.
- The decisions are issued within a period not exceeding 90 days from the date the request is submitted.
- The Head of State Security sets the committee's rules of work.
The phrase "before going to the competent court" means that the request before the committee precedes filing a lawsuit. The article does not specify the types of harm covered or how compensation is assessed; these are left to the committee's work and rules.
The article follows Article 15, which allows the use of force under the legal rules. A person who believes he has been harmed and wants to submit a request should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases or in compensation cases.
Practical example
Ahmed believes he has been harmed by the accused or convicted in a crime under the Law and wants to claim compensation. He must first submit his request to the Head of State Security for the settlement committee to consider. The committee issues its decision by majority within 90 days of submitting the request, before he goes to the competent court.
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 16 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
How do I request compensation for harm in a terrorism case?
A person harmed by the accused or convicted submits a request to the Head of State Security before going to the competent court, and a settlement committee considers the request.
How long does the settlement committee have to decide on a compensation request?
The committee's decisions are issued within a period not exceeding 90 days from the date the request is submitted.
Who are the members of the settlement committee?
It has no fewer than three members, including a Sharia adviser and a legal adviser, and is formed by a decision of the Head of State Security.
More articles on Trial before the Specialized Criminal Court
- Article 18
Article 18 gives the Public Prosecution jurisdiction to investigate crimes under the Law and to file and pursue the criminal case before the competent court.
تختص النيابة العامة بالتحقيق في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام وإقامة الدعوى الجزائية ومباشرتها أمام المحكمة المختصة.
- Article 23
Article 23 provides that investigation and the criminal case in crimes under the Law do not depend on a complaint by the victim, and a private claimant may bring his claim after the investigation of the public right ends.
لا تتوقف إجراءات التحقيق أو إقامة الدعوى الجزائية في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أو الجرائم المرتبطة بها على شكوى المجني عليه، أو من ينوب عنه، أو وارثه من ب
- Article 24
Article 24 sets out what the Specialized Criminal Court decides: crimes under the Law, annulment and compensation claims, and requests to enforce foreign judgments, along with the routes of appeal and objection.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة الفصل في أي مما يأتي: 1- الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام. 2- دعاوى إلغاء القرارات ودعاوى التعويض المتعلقة بتطبيق أحكام النظام. 3- طلبات تن
- Article 25
Article 25 allows the court to issue a judgment in absentia against an accused of a crime under the Law if he was notified through the means of notification or an official media outlet, and he is retried upon arrest or appearance.
تصدر المحكمة حكمًا غيابيًّا في حق المتهم بارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام إذا تم التبليغ من المحكمة عن طريق وسائل التبليغ أو إحدى وسائل الإعلام
- Article 26
Article 26 makes the competent court decide all connected crimes charged against the accused if one of them is a crime under the Law, unless the case papers were separated before being filed with the court.
إذا وقعت عدة جرائم يرتبط بعضها ببعض، وكانت إحداها جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، فتتولى المحكمة المختصة، الفصل في جميع الجرائم الموجهة إلى المتهم، ما
- Article 27
Article 27 allows the court to hear witnesses and experts apart from the accused and his lawyer while informing them of the testimony without revealing identity, requires their protection, and lets the court's president allow filming of sessions.
1- للمحكمة المختصة -عند الاقتضاء- مناقشة الخبراء وسماع الشهود بمعزل عن المتهم ومحاميه ويبلغ المتهم أو محاميه بما تضمنته الشهادة وتقرير الخبرة دون الكشف عن هوية
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.