Article 29 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 29 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 29 provides that the case in crimes under the Law does not lapse with the passage of time, and that an accused who lacks capacity is placed in a treatment center and referred to the Public Prosecution once the condition ends.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا تنقضي الدعوى في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام بمضي المدة.
2- في حالة حفظ الأوراق أو الدعوى بحق المتهم لفقدانه الأهلية في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، فيتم إيداعه في أحد المراكز العلاجية المتخصصة على أن يعرض المتهم عند انتفاء عوارض فقدان الأهلية على النيابة العامة للنظر في استئناف إجراءات الدعوى الجزائية.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article contains two provisions:
First: no limitation period
The case in any of the crimes under the Law does not lapse with the passage of time. That is, the passage of time, however long, does not extinguish the case in these crimes, so the perpetrator may be prosecuted even after many years.
Second: the accused who lacks capacity
- If the papers or the case are shelved against the accused in a crime under the Law because of his lack of capacity,
- he is placed in a specialized treatment center,
- and once the conditions causing the lack of capacity end, he is brought before the Public Prosecution to consider resuming the criminal case proceedings.
Shelving the case because of lack of capacity does not mean its final end, since the Public Prosecution may consider resuming the proceedings after the condition ends. The text says "to consider" resuming, meaning the Public Prosecution has discretion. The article does not state how lack of capacity, or its end, is established.
The article follows Article 28, on urgent execution of precautionary seizure, and is followed by Article 30, which punishes defaming the King or the Crown Prince. A person with a relative who is accused and has a condition affecting his capacity should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person was accused of a crime under the Law, then it was established that he lacked capacity, so the case against him was shelved and he was placed in a specialized treatment center. Years later the conditions causing the lack of capacity ended, so he is brought before the Public Prosecution to consider resuming the proceedings, and the passage of the years does not prevent this because the case does not lapse with the passage of time.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 29 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Do terrorism cases lapse with the passage of time?
No. The article provides that the case in any of the crimes under the Law does not lapse with the passage of time.
What happens to an accused who lacks capacity in a terrorism case?
If the papers or the case are shelved against him because of lack of capacity, he is placed in a specialized treatment center, and when the conditions causing the lack of capacity end he is brought before the Public Prosecution to consider resuming the proceedings.
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 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
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.