Article 45 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 45 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
Article 45 punishes with imprisonment of 5 to 10 years anyone who uses the Kingdom's territory as a place to plan or meet to commit a terrorist or terrorist financing crime outside the Kingdom.
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 اتخذ أراضي المملكة محلاً للتخطيط أو للاجتماع، لارتكاب جريمة إرهابية أو جريمة تمويل إرهاب خارج المملكة.
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 45 explained in plain English
This article prevents the use of the Kingdom's territory as a base for terrorism abroad. Anyone who uses the Kingdom's territory as a place to plan or meet to commit a terrorist crime or a terrorist financing crime outside the Kingdom is punished with imprisonment for no less than 5 years and no more than 10 years.
Important points in the article:
- Planning or meeting inside the Kingdom is enough, even if the targeted crime will take place in another country.
- The article covers both the terrorist crime and the terrorist financing crime. A terrorist financing crime, under Article 1, is providing funds to commit a terrorist crime or for the benefit of a terrorist entity or a terrorist in any of the forms set out in the Law, including financing the travel and training of a terrorist.
- The text does not require that the crime actually take place abroad; the punishment is tied to planning or meeting to commit it.
The article follows Article 44, which punishes publishing false news and rumors with the intent to carry out a terrorist crime, and precedes Article 46, which punishes obstructing the investigation or trial or assaulting those who apply the Law.
A person facing an accusation under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Three people held several meetings at a rest house in a city in the Kingdom to draw up a plan for a terrorist attack in another country and to distribute roles among them. If this is established, each of them is punished with imprisonment of 5 to 10 years, even though the planned attack is outside the Kingdom.
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 45 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for planning in Saudi Arabia a terrorist act abroad?
Imprisonment for no less than 5 years and no more than 10 years for anyone who uses the Kingdom's territory as a place to plan or meet to commit a terrorist crime outside it.
Does the article cover planning for terrorist financing?
Yes. It also covers planning or meeting to commit a terrorist financing crime outside the Kingdom.
Must the crime take place abroad for punishment?
The text punishes using the Kingdom's territory as a place to plan or meet to commit the crime, and does not require that it actually take place.
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 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
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.