Article 23 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 23 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بعده. وللمدعي بالحق الخاص رفع دعواه أمام المحكمة المختصة بعد انتهاء التحقيق في الحق العام.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article contains two important provisions for a person harmed by a terrorist crime:
- No complaint is needed: investigation procedures and the filing of the criminal case in crimes under the Law, or crimes connected to them, do not depend on a complaint by the victim, his representative, or his heir after him. The Public Prosecution investigates and brings the case whether or not the injured person complains.
- Timing of the private claim: the private claimant may bring his claim before the competent court after the investigation of the public right ends.
The public right is society's right to punish the offender and is handled by the Public Prosecution, while the private right is the injured person's right to claim what is due to him. The competent court, under Article 1, is the Specialized Criminal Court.
The first provision means that the absence of a complaint does not prevent the proceedings from going forward, and the article does not mention any effect of the injured person waiving the public right. The article follows Article 22, which gives the Public Prosecution the power to identify and trace funds subject to confiscation, and precedes Article 24, which sets out what the competent court decides.
A person harmed by one of these crimes who wants to claim his private right should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases or in compensation cases.
Practical example
A shop in Riyadh was damaged in a terrorist act, and its owner did not file a complaint. The Public Prosecution begins the investigation and brings the case without waiting for his complaint. If the shop owner wants to claim compensation for his harm, he may bring his claim before the competent court after the investigation of the public right ends.
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 23 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Does a terrorism case stop if the injured person does not complain?
No. Investigation procedures and filing the criminal case in crimes under the Law, or crimes connected to them, do not depend on a complaint by the victim, his representative or his heir.
When does the injured person bring his private claim?
The private claimant may bring his claim before the competent court after the investigation of the public right ends.
More articles on Trial before the Specialized Criminal Court
- Article 16
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.
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
- 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 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.