Article 21 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 21 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 21 affirms the accused's right to a lawyer or agent and allows the Public Prosecution to restrict it at the investigation stage when the interest of the investigation requires it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بحق المتهم من الاستعانة بمحام أو وكيل للدفاع عنه، للنيابة العامة -في مرحلة التحقيق- تقييد هذا الحق متى ما اقتضت مصلحة التحقيق 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 21 explained in plain English
This article deals with the accused's right to have a lawyer or agent defend him in crimes under the Law.
It contains two provisions:
- The rule: the article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the accused's right to have a lawyer or agent to defend him", meaning this right is established.
- The exception: the Public Prosecution may restrict this right, on two conditions:
- that this is at the investigation stage.
- that the interest of the investigation requires it.
The text speaks of restricting the right, not abolishing it. The restriction is limited to the investigation stage, so under the text it does not extend to the trial stage. The article does not state the forms the restriction may take or its duration.
This article follows Article 20, which allows a bar on contact with or visits to the accused for up to 90 days in the interest of the investigation, without prejudice to the right to notify his family of the arrest, and precedes Article 22, which gives the Public Prosecution the power to identify and trace the funds subject to confiscation.
A person with a relative accused in one of these cases who wants to appoint a lawyer should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases and can follow the procedures with him.
Practical example
The family of an accused in a terrorist financing case appointed a lawyer to defend him. During the investigation, the Public Prosecution decided to restrict the lawyer's attendance because the interest of the investigation required it. This restriction applies only to the investigation stage, and the accused's right to have a lawyer remains.
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 21 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Does an accused in a terrorism case have the right to appoint a lawyer?
Yes. The article provides that this is without prejudice to the accused's right to have a lawyer or agent to defend him.
Can a lawyer be barred from attending the investigation?
The Public Prosecution may restrict this right at the investigation stage when the interest of the investigation requires it.
Does the restriction cover the trial stage?
The text limits the power to restrict to the investigation stage.
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- 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 10
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.
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 م
- 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
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.