Article 48 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 48 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
Article 48 punishes with imprisonment of 5 to 15 years anyone who travels to another country with the purpose of committing any of the crimes set out in the Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس عشرة) سنة ولا تقل عن (خمس) سنوات, كل من سافر إلى دولة أخرى بغرض ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام.
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 48 explained in plain English
This article punishes travel for the purpose of committing terrorist crimes. Anyone who travels to another country with the purpose of committing any of the crimes set out in the Law is punished with imprisonment for no less than 5 years and no more than 15 years.
The decisive element in the article is the purpose of the travel. Travel in itself is a lawful act, and it falls under this article only if it is for the purpose of committing a crime under the Law, such as joining a terrorist entity, participating in it, training with it or carrying out a terrorist act.
Note that the text punishes travel for this purpose without requiring that the intended crime take place.
This article is linked to what Article 1 provides, that the terrorist financing crime includes financing the travel and training of a terrorist, so whoever finances another's travel for this purpose falls within terrorist financing punished by Article 47, which precedes this article. It is followed by Article 49 on the liability of legal persons for crimes under the Law.
Because proving the purpose of travel is a delicate matter, a person facing an accusation under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A young man traveled from Riyadh to a country experiencing armed conflict in order to join the camps of a terrorist entity there. If it is established that the purpose of his travel was to commit a crime under the Law, he is punished for the travel itself with imprisonment of 5 to 15 years.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 48 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for traveling abroad for a terrorist purpose?
Imprisonment for no less than 5 years and no more than 15 years for anyone who travels to another country with the purpose of committing any of the crimes under the Law.
Is the traveler punished even if he did not commit the crime abroad?
The text punishes travel with the purpose of committing the crime and does not require that it take place.
Is someone who financed another person's travel for a terrorist purpose punished?
The definition of the terrorist financing crime in Article 1 includes financing the travel and training of a terrorist, and terrorist financing is punished by Article 47.
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.