Article 87 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 87 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل العاشر: أحكام ختامية
The Article obliges everyone concerned with applying the Law to keep confidential the information they learn, and not to disclose without need the procedures of reporting, evidence-gathering, investigation and trial, or their data.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم كل من له شأن بتطبيق أحكام النظام، بسرية المعلومات التي اطلع عليها، وألا يكشف سريتها إلا لضرورة استخدامها في أغراض جهات الاختصاص، وألا يفصح لأي شخص عن أي من إجراءات الإبلاغ أو الاستدلال أو التحقيق أو المحاكمة، التي تتخذ في شأن أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، أو الإفصاح عن البيانات المتعلقة بها دون مقتضى.
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 87 explained in plain English
This Article imposes a general duty of confidentiality on everyone concerned with applying the provisions of the Law, without limiting it to a particular body.
Content of the obligation:
- Confidentiality of the information they have learned, and not disclosing it except as necessary to use it for the purposes of the competent authorities.
- Not disclosing to any person any of the procedures of:
- Reporting.
- Evidence-gathering.
- Investigation.
- Trial.
- Not disclosing the data relating to them without need.
The test is thus necessity or need: what the purposes of the competent authorities require is permitted, and anything else is prohibited.
This Article complements Article 86, which allows the exchange of information disclosed by financial institutions between the competent authorities while keeping it confidential. It is followed by Article 88, which provides for establishing specialized centers to educate detainees and convicted persons.
The Article itself does not state a penalty for breaching confidentiality, and does not list exhaustively who the persons concerned are.
Anyone accused of breaching this obligation would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An employee of a government body who took part in evidence-gathering procedures in a terrorism financing case then talked about its details at a family gathering. This is disclosure without need of evidence-gathering procedures, which the Article prohibits.
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 87 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
May the details of an investigation in terrorism cases be discussed?
Anyone concerned with applying the Law may not disclose to any person the procedures of reporting, evidence-gathering, investigation or trial, or their data, without need.
When may information be disclosed?
As necessary to use it for the purposes of the competent authorities.
Who is bound by this confidentiality?
Everyone concerned with applying the provisions of the Law.
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لرئيس أمن الدولة وضع ما يلزم من ضوابط وإجراءات وتدابير لضمان سلامة الوضع الأمني للمفرج عنهم في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام.
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1- للمحكمة المختصة -عند الاقتضاء- مناقشة الخبراء وسماع الشهود بمعزل عن المتهم ومحاميه ويبلغ المتهم أو محاميه بما تضمنته الشهادة وتقرير الخبرة دون الكشف عن هوية
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على الجهات المعنية الآتي: 1- رعاية حقوق الضحايا، ومن في حكمهم في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، من خلال توفير المساعدة والدعم المناسبين للمطالبة بحقوقهم. 2- ت
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يجوز تبادل المعلومات التي تكشف عنها المؤسسات المالية والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة والمنظمات غير الهادفة للربح بين الجهات المختصة في المملكة، مع الالتزام
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تنشأ مراكز متخصصة تكون مهماتها التوعية التربوية للموقوفين والمحكوم عليهم في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، وتصحيح أفكارهم وتعميق الانتماء الوطني لديهم، وتحدد
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تنشئ رئاسة أمن الدولة دوراً تسمى (دور الإصلاح والتأهيل) تكون مهماتها الاعتناء بالموقوفين والمحكوم عليهم في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، وتسهيل اندماجهم في ا
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.