Article 37 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 37 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
Article 37 punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years anyone who supplies a terrorist entity, its members or any terrorist with weapons, explosives or hazardous materials, or with genuine or forged documents.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاثين) سنة ولا تقل عن (عشر) سنوات، كل من أمدّ كياناً إرهابيًّا أو أيَّا من أفراده أو أي إرهابي، بأي من الأسلحة، أو المتفجرات، أو الذخائر، أو المواد النووية أو الكيميـائيـة أو البيـولوجيـة أو الإشعـاعـية، أو السموم، أو الأجهزة الحارقة.
كما يعاقب بالعقوبة نفسها كل من أمدَّ كياناً إرهابيًّا أو أيَّا من أفراده أو أي شخص له علاقة بأي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام بأي من المستندات الصحيحة أو المزورة.
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 37 explained in plain English
This article punishes supplying terrorists with what enables them to carry out their crimes, and prescribes imprisonment for no less than 10 years and no more than 30 years. It covers two forms:
- Supplying weapons and hazardous materials: supplying a terrorist entity, any of its members or any terrorist with weapons, explosives, ammunition, nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological materials, poisons or incendiary devices.
- Supplying documents: supplying a terrorist entity, any of its members or any person connected to any of the crimes under the Law with any documents, whether genuine or forged.
Note that the second form is broader as to persons, since it covers anyone connected to any of the crimes under the Law, even if he is not a member of a terrorist entity. The fact that a document is genuine does not prevent punishment.
A terrorist, as defined in Article 1, is any natural person, inside or outside the Kingdom, who commits a crime under the Law or attempts, participates, plans or contributes to committing it.
This article differs from Article 38, which punishes supplying means of communication, information, shelter, transport and the like with imprisonment of 10 to 20 years; supplying weapons and documents in Article 37 carries a more severe penalty.
A person facing an accusation under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An employee at a services office in Riyadh gave a member of a terrorist entity forged identity and travel documents to move around with. If this is established, he is punished with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years, the same penalty prescribed for whoever supplies them with weapons or explosives.
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 37 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for supplying terrorists with weapons?
Imprisonment for no less than 10 years and no more than 30 years for anyone who supplies a terrorist entity, any of its members or any terrorist with the weapons, explosives or hazardous materials mentioned.
Is a person who provided genuine documents to a terrorist punished?
Yes. The article punishes supplying any documents, genuine or forged, with the same penalty.
Must the beneficiary be a member of an organization?
In the case of documents, the article covers any person connected to any of the crimes under the Law, even if he is not a member of a terrorist entity.
More articles on Penalties for Terrorist Acts
- Article 31
Article 31 punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years anyone who carries any weapon or explosives in carrying out a terrorist crime.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاثين) سنة ولا تقل عن (عشر) سنوات، كل من قام بحَمل أي سلاح أو متفجرات تنفيذاً لجريمة إرهابية.
- Article 36
Article 36 punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 20 years anyone who, to commit crimes under the Law, designates a place for training, trains, is trained or finances training on weapons, forgery and combat.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (عشرين) سنة ولا تقل عن (عشر) سنوات، كل من قام -لارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام- بأحد الأفعال الآتية: 1- خصص مكاناً لل
- Article 38
Article 38 punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 20 years anyone who supplies a terrorist entity, its members or a terrorist with a means of communication, information, shelter, transport or any facility that helps achieve their purposes.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (عشرين) سنة ولا تقل عن (عشر) سنوات، كل من أمدَّ كياناً إرهابيًّا أو أيًّا من أفراده أو أي إرهابي، بأي وسيلة اتصال, أو قدم إلى أي من
- Article 39
Article 39 punishes with imprisonment of 15 to 25 years anyone who smuggles, manufactures, possesses or transports weapons, explosives or hazardous materials or their raw materials with the intent to use them in crimes under the Law.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس وعشرين) سنة ولا تقل عن (خمس عشرة) سنة، كل من هرَّب أيًّا من الأسلحة، أو الذخائر، أو المتفجرات، أو المواد النووية أو الكيميـائي
- Article 40
Article 40 punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years anyone who kidnaps, detains or confines a person, or threatens to, in carrying out a terrorist or terrorist financing crime, and the court may sentence to death where a weapon is used.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاثين) سنة ولا تقل عن (عشر) سنوات, كل من خطف شخصاً أو احتجزه أو حبسه أو هدد بأي من تلك الأفعال تنفيذاً لجريمة إرهابية أو جريمة تم
- Article 41
Article 41 punishes with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years anyone who hijacks a means of public transport, or threatens to, in carrying out a terrorist or terrorist financing crime, and with death if the act is accompanied by use or brandishing of weapons.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاثين) سنة ولا تقل عن (عشر) سنوات، كـل مـن اختطـف أي وسيلة من وسائل النقل العام أو هدد بأي من تلك الأفعال؛ تنفيذاً لجريمة إرهابية
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.