Article 30 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 30 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
Article 30 punishes with imprisonment of 5 to 10 years anyone who describes the King or the Crown Prince, directly or indirectly, with any description that impugns religion or justice.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (عشر) سنوات ولا تقل عن (خمس) سنوات، كل من وصف -بصورة مباشرة أو غير مباشرة- الملك أو ولي العهد بأي وصف يطعن في الدين أو العدالة.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article is one of the penalties chapter of the Law, and it criminalizes a specific act and sets a penalty for it.
Elements of the crime:
- The offender: "anyone", that is, any person.
- The act: describing the King or the Crown Prince with any description.
- The nature of the description: it must be a description that impugns religion or justice.
- The manner: whether the description is made directly or indirectly, so an explicit statement is not required.
The penalty: imprisonment for no less than 5 years and no more than 10 years. The court sets the penalty within this range.
The article does not specify a particular means of description; the text is general. Deciding whether the description applies to a particular incident is for the competent court, which under Article 1 is the Specialized Criminal Court.
This article follows Article 29, which provides that the case does not lapse with the passage of time, and is followed by Article 31, which punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years anyone who carries a weapon or explosives in carrying out a terrorist crime. A person facing an accusation under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person published statements describing the Crown Prince in a way that impugns his justice, without naming him explicitly but alluding to him clearly. Because the article covers both direct and indirect description, the act may fall within its scope; the court assesses this, and the prescribed penalty is imprisonment of 5 to 10 years.
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 30 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for defaming the King or Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?
Imprisonment for no less than 5 years and no more than 10 years for anyone who describes the King or the Crown Prince with any description that impugns religion or justice.
Does the person have to be named explicitly?
No. The article provides that the description may be direct or indirect.
Does every criticism fall under this article?
The article requires that the description impugn religion or justice, and whether it applies to a particular incident is for the court to decide.
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.