Article 51 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 51 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
Article 51 punishes attempt at crimes under the Law with the penalty prescribed for the act, and treats as an accomplice, with the same penalty, anyone who contributes by agreement, incitement or assistance, conceals evidence or helps a wanted person escape.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُعاقب كل من شرع في القيام بارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام بالعقوبة المقررة لذلك الفعل.
2- يعد شريكاً في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام ويُعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة لها، كلُّ مَنْ:
أ- ساهم عن طريق الاتفاق أو التحريض أو المساعدة على ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام.
ب- أخفى أو أتلف - عمداً - أشياء استعملت أو أعدت للاستعمال في ارتكاب أيٍّ من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أو تحصلت منها، أو مستندات كان من شأنها كشف الجريمة وأدلتها أو عقاب مرتكبيها.
ج- مكّن موقوفاً أو سجيناً أو مطلوباً في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من الهـرب أو سهل له ذلك.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article widens the circle of liability in crimes under the Law to include whoever did not complete the crime and whoever helped in it.
First: attempt. Anyone who attempts to commit any of the crimes under the Law is punished with the penalty prescribed for that act, meaning attempt is punished like the completed crime.
Second: participation. Whoever does the following is considered an accomplice and is punished with the penalty prescribed for the crime:
- Contributes to committing any of the crimes under the Law through agreement, incitement or assistance.
- Intentionally conceals or destroys things used or prepared for use in committing any of the crimes under the Law or obtained from them, or documents that would reveal the crime and its evidence or the punishment of its perpetrators.
- Enables a detainee, prisoner or wanted person in any of the crimes under the Law to escape or facilitates this for him.
Note that concealing or destroying things or documents requires that it be done intentionally, as the text states.
The article follows Article 50, which prescribes death if the crime results in death and raises the minimum imprisonment to half the maximum in certain cases, and precedes Article 52, which provides that the discretionary (ta'zir) penalties in the Law do not affect any more severe penalty based on the provisions of Islamic Sharia or other laws.
Because defining each person's role in the crime directly affects his liability, a person facing an accusation of attempt or participation should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
After a group carried out a terrorist crime, a person intentionally hid in his house the tools they had used, and destroyed a phone containing messages revealing the plan. If this is established, he is considered an accomplice in the crime and is punished with the penalty prescribed for it.
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 51 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the penalty for attempting a terrorist crime?
Anyone who attempts to commit any of the crimes under the Law is punished with the penalty prescribed for that act.
Is an accomplice in a terrorism crime punished like the perpetrator?
Yes. Whoever contributed to it by agreement, incitement or assistance is considered an accomplice and is punished with the penalty prescribed for the crime.
What is the penalty for helping a detainee in a terrorism case escape?
Whoever enables a detainee, prisoner or wanted person in any of the crimes under the Law to escape, or facilitates this for him, is considered an accomplice and is punished with the penalty prescribed for the crime.
More articles on Aggravating and Mitigating Penalties
- Article 11
Article 11 allows the Public Prosecution to suspend proceedings against a person who voluntarily reported a crime under the Law and cooperated with the competent authorities, without prejudice to the private claimant's right.
مع عدم الإخلال بحق المدعي بالحق الخاص، للنيابة العامة إيقاف إجراءات الدعوى بحق من بادر بالإبلاغ عن جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام -قبل ارتكابها أو بعد
- 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
- 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
- Article 50
Article 50 prescribes death where a crime under the Law results in the death of one or more persons, and sets the imprisonment term at no less than half its maximum in cases of weapons, non-profit organizations, repeat offending or exploiting minors.
1- يعاقب بالقتل كل من ارتكب أيًّا من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام نتج عنها وفاة شخص أو أكثر. 2- لا تقل عقوبة السجن المقرر لكل من ارتكب أيًّا من الجرائم المنص
- Article 52
Article 52 provides that the discretionary (ta'zir) penalties in the Law do not affect any more severe penalty based on the provisions of Islamic Sharia or other laws.
لا تخل العقوبات التعزيرية الواردة في النظام؛ بأي عقوبة أشد تستند إلى أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية أو الأنظمة الأخرى.
- Article 54
Article 54 punishes with imprisonment of up to 5 years anyone who knew of a plan to carry out a terrorist or terrorist financing crime and did not report it to the competent authorities though able to.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس) سنوات كل من علم بمشروع لتنفيذ جريمة إرهابية أو جريمة تمويل إرهاب ولم يبلغ السلطات المختصة مع تمكنه من الإبلاغ.
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.