Article 46 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 46 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
Article 46 punishes with imprisonment of 3 to 10 years anyone who obstructs the investigation or trial, or resists, assaults or threatens to assault those who apply the Law or their relatives or property.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (عشر) سنوات ولا تقل عن (ثلاث) سنوات، كل من أعاق سير التحقيق أو المحاكمة، أو قاوم أو اعتدى أو هدد بالاعتداء على أحد القائمين على تطبيق أحكام النظام، أو على أحد أقاربه أو ممتلكاته.
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 46 explained in plain English
This article protects the course of justice in terrorism cases and those who work to apply the Law. It punishes with imprisonment for no less than 3 years and no more than 10 years anyone who does any of the following:
- Obstructs the course of the investigation or trial.
- Resists one of those who apply the Law's provisions.
- Assaults him or threatens to assault him.
- Assaults, or threatens to assault, one of his relatives or his property.
Note that the protection is not limited to the person applying the Law himself, but extends to his relatives and property, because a threat may be directed at them to pressure him. A mere threat of assault is also enough; the assault need not actually take place.
The article does not name the categories of "those who apply the Law's provisions"; the phrase is general. The text of the article also does not require that the act be in carrying out a terrorist crime; it is enough that the act affects the course of the investigation or trial or one of those who apply the Law.
The article follows Article 45, on using the Kingdom's territory as a place to plan a crime abroad, and precedes Article 47 on terrorist financing.
To assess any accusation of this kind, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A relative of one of the accused in a terrorism case sent threatening messages to the investigator's son demanding that the investigation be stopped. If this is established, threatening a relative of someone who applies the Law falls within this article, and he is punished with imprisonment of 3 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 46 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for obstructing an investigation in terrorism cases?
Imprisonment for no less than 3 years and no more than 10 years for anyone who obstructs the course of the investigation or trial.
Is someone who threatens the relatives of an investigator or judge punished?
Yes. The article covers assaulting, or threatening to assault, one of the relatives of those who apply the Law, or his property.
Must the assault actually take place?
No. Threatening assault is punished with the same penalty, as is resistance.
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.