Article 3 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 3 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثاني: أحكام عامة
Article 3 extends the Law to any Saudi or foreigner who commits a crime under it outside the Kingdom and has not been tried for it, if it aims at one of seven stated purposes.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
استثناءً من مبدأ الإقليمية، يسري النظام على كل شخص سعوديًّا كان أم أجنبيًّا ارتكب -خارج المملكة- جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، أو ساعد على ارتكابها، أو شرع فيها، أو حرض عليها، أو ساهم فيها، أو شارك فيها، ولم يحاكم عليها؛ إذا كانت تهدف إلى أيّ مما يأتي:
1- تغيير نظام الحكم في المملكة.
2- تعطيل النظام الأساسي للحكم أو بعض أحكامه.
3- حمل الدولة على القيام بعمل أو الامتناع عنه.
4- الاعتداء على السعوديين في الخارج.
5- الإضرار بالأملاك العامة للدولة وممثلياتها في الخارج بما في ذلك السفارات وغيرها من الأماكن الدبلوماسية أو القنصلية التابعة لها.
6- القيام بعمل إرهابي على متن وسيلة مواصلات مسجلة لدى المملكة أو تحمل علمها.
7- المساس بمصالح المملكة، أو اقتصادها، أو أمنها الوطني.
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 3 explained in plain English
The rule is that criminal laws apply to what happens within the state's borders, which is called the principle of territoriality. This article makes an exception to that rule, so the Law applies to crimes committed outside the Kingdom.
The following is required for that:
- The offender may be any person, Saudi or foreign.
- He or she commits a crime under the Law outside the Kingdom, or assists in committing it, attempts it, incites it, or contributes or takes part in it.
- He or she has not been tried for it.
- The crime aims at one of the following purposes: changing the system of government in the Kingdom, suspending the Basic Law of Governance or some of its provisions, compelling the state to do or refrain from doing something, attacking Saudis abroad, harming the state's public property and its missions abroad such as embassies and consulates, carrying out a terrorist act on a means of transport registered in the Kingdom or flying its flag, or prejudicing the Kingdom's interests, economy or national security.
The article is consistent with the definitions of terrorist and terrorist entity in Article 1, which cover a person who is inside or outside the Kingdom. Where the article applies, these crimes take the description of major crimes requiring detention found in Article 2.
Anyone with a connection to an event abroad would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and international matters.
Practical example
A foreigner living in another country took part there in planning to destroy the building of a Saudi consulate, and has not been tried for it anywhere. Because the act aims to harm the Kingdom's missions abroad, the Law applies to him even though the act took place outside the Kingdom and he is not Saudi.
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 3 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Does the Counter-Terrorism Law apply to a foreigner who committed a crime outside the Kingdom?
Yes. It applies to any person, Saudi or foreign, who commits the crime outside the Kingdom or takes part in it in any of the ways mentioned and has not been tried for it, if it aims at one of the seven purposes in the article.
What if the person was tried for the crime abroad?
The article requires, for the Law to apply to a crime committed abroad, that the person has not been tried for it.
Does attacking Saudis abroad fall under this article?
Yes. One of the purposes the article mentions is attacking Saudis abroad.
More articles on Definition of a Terrorist Crime
- Article 1
Article 1 defines the key terms of the Law, such as terrorist crime, terrorism financing, terrorist, terrorist entity, funds, precautionary seizure and confiscation.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق خلاف ذلك: 1- النظام: نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويل
- 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 91
The Article provides that intent, knowledge or purpose in a terrorist crime or a terrorism financing crime is established from the circumstances and facts surrounding the commission of the act.
يُتحقق من القصد أو العلم أو الغرض في ارتكاب جريمة إرهابية أو جريمة تمويل إرهاب من خلال ظروف وملابسات ارتكاب الفعل الجرمي.
- Article 92
The Article provides for applying the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Law on the obligations of financial institutions, designated non-financial professions and non-profit organizations where this Law has no provision.
تطبق الأحكام الواردة في نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال المتعلقة بالتزامات المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح, وذلك
- Article 93
The Article provides for applying the provisions of the Law of Criminal Procedure where the Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law has no specific provision.
تطبق أحكام نظام الإجراءات الجزائية فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في النظام.
- Article 94
The Article provides that this Law replaces the Law of Terrorism Crimes and Financing issued by Royal Decree No. (M/16) dated 24/2/1435 AH, and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يحل هذا النظام محل نظام جرائم الارهاب وتمويله، الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 16) وتاريخ 1435 / 2 / 24 هـ ، ويلغي ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
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.