Article 40 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 40 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
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.
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 خطف شخصاً أو احتجزه أو حبسه أو هدد بأي من تلك الأفعال تنفيذاً لجريمة إرهابية أو جريمة تمويل إرهاب، وللمحكمة المختصة أن تحكم بالقتل إذا اقترن أي من تلك الأفعال باستعمال أو إشهار أي من الأسلحة أو المتفجرات.
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 40 explained in plain English
This article punishes attacks on personal liberty in the context of terrorism. Anyone who kidnaps, detains or confines a person, or threatens to do any of these, in carrying out a terrorist crime or a terrorist financing crime, is punished with imprisonment for no less than 10 years and no more than 30 years.
Note that the article:
- Treats actually carrying out the kidnapping, detention or confinement the same as threatening it.
- Covers what is done in carrying out a terrorist financing crime, which under Article 1 is providing funds to commit a terrorist crime or for the benefit of a terrorist entity or a terrorist.
The death penalty: the article allows the competent court, which under Article 1 is the Specialized Criminal Court, to sentence to death if any of these acts is accompanied by the use or brandishing of any weapons or explosives. The wording here is discretionary ("the court may sentence"), meaning the matter is left to the court's discretion.
This article differs from Article 41 on hijacking public transport, which provides that the offender "is punished by death" when the act is accompanied by the use or brandishing of weapons. It also follows Article 39, which punishes smuggling and manufacturing weapons and explosives.
A person facing an accusation under this article needs to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases without delay.
Practical example
A group held a hostage in a building to compel a government body to release its members, and one of them brandished a weapon in the hostage's face. If this is established, the offenders are punished with imprisonment of 10 to 30 years, and the Specialized Criminal Court may sentence to death because the act was accompanied by brandishing a weapon.
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 40 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for kidnapping in carrying out a terrorist crime?
Imprisonment for no less than 10 years and no more than 30 years, which includes detention, confinement and threatening any of them.
When may the death penalty be imposed for terrorist kidnapping?
The competent court may sentence to death if the kidnapping, detention, confinement or threat is accompanied by the use or brandishing of any weapons or explosives.
Is someone who threatens to kidnap without carrying it out punished?
Yes. The article punishes threatening kidnapping, detention or confinement with the same penalty when it is in carrying out a terrorist crime or a terrorist financing crime.
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 37
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.
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
- 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 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.