Article 44 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law

This article punishes using misleading information as a tool of terrorism. Anyone who broadcasts or publishes by any means false or malicious news, a statement or a rumor or the like is punished with imprisonment for no less than one year and no more than 5 years.

The essential condition in the article is that the publication be with the intent to carry out a terrorist crime. Merely publishing untrue news is not enough to apply this article; the publication must be with this intent. A terrorist crime, under Article 1, includes any conduct intended to disturb public order, shake the security of society and the stability of the State, or other purposes mentioned there, where the purpose is to terrorize people or compel a government or international organization to do or refrain from doing something.

Important points:

• The phrase "by any means" covers traditional and electronic means.
• The article mentions news, statements and rumors, and adds "or the like", so the list is not exhaustive.
• It is enough that the content be false or malicious.

The article follows Article 43, which punishes more severely (5 to 20 years) creating or using websites or electronic programs to commit crimes under the Law or promote the ideas of terrorist entities, and precedes Article 45, which punishes using the Kingdom's territory as a place to plan a terrorist crime abroad.

Because proving intent is essential, a person facing an accusation under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.