Article 91 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 91 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل العاشر: أحكام ختامية
The Article provides that intent, knowledge or purpose in a terrorist crime or a terrorism financing crime is established from the circumstances and facts surrounding the commission of the act.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُتحقق من القصد أو العلم أو الغرض في ارتكاب جريمة إرهابية أو جريمة تمويل إرهاب من خلال ظروف وملابسات ارتكاب الفعل الجرمي.
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 91 explained in plain English
This Article deals with proving the mental element in the crimes of the Law, that is, the intent, knowledge or purpose in the offender's mind.
This matters because the definition of a terrorist crime in Article 1 rests on conduct intended to disturb public order or shake the security of society, among other purposes mentioned there, and a terrorism financing crime rests on providing funds to commit a terrorist crime or for the benefit of a terrorist entity or terrorist. Intent and purpose are thus part of the structure of both crimes.
What does the Article provide?
- That intent, knowledge or purpose is established from the circumstances and facts surrounding the commission of the criminal act.
- That is, proving them does not depend on the person confessing what he intended, but is drawn from the facts surrounding the act.
The Article does not specify particular circumstances, and does not say that any specific circumstance alone suffices for conviction; assessing the circumstances and facts depends on each case.
The Article comes after Article 90 on the regulations for detention houses and prisons, and before Article 92, which provides for applying the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Law on the obligations of financial institutions and others where this Law has no provision.
Because the question of intent may be the center of the defense in these cases, anyone facing an accusation needs to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
Ahmed transferred an amount to a person abroad and said he did not know of any link to a terrorist entity. Under the Article, his knowledge and intent are established from the circumstances and facts of the act, so the competent authorities look at the circumstances and facts of the transfer, such as the way of communication, the nature of the amount and the stated purpose, to assess his knowledge and intent.
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 91 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
How is intent proved in terrorism and terrorism financing crimes?
Intent, knowledge or purpose is established from the circumstances and facts surrounding the commission of the criminal act.
Is the accused's denial of his intent enough?
The Article provides that intent, knowledge or purpose is established from the circumstances and facts surrounding the commission of the criminal act, and does not specifically address the effect of the accused's denial.
Does the Article specify particular circumstances that prove intent?
No. The Article does not mention particular circumstances.
More articles on Definition of a Terrorist Crime
- Article 1
Article 1 defines the key terms of the Law, such as terrorist crime, terrorism financing, terrorist, terrorist entity, funds, precautionary seizure and confiscation.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق خلاف ذلك: 1- النظام: نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويل
- Article 2
Article 2 treats all crimes under the Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law as major crimes requiring detention.
تعد الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من الجرائم الكبيرة الموجبة للتوقيف.
- Article 3
Article 3 extends the Law to any Saudi or foreigner who commits a crime under it outside the Kingdom and has not been tried for it, if it aims at one of seven stated purposes.
استثناءً من مبدأ الإقليمية، يسري النظام على كل شخص سعوديًّا كان أم أجنبيًّا ارتكب -خارج المملكة- جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، أو ساعد على ارتكابها،
- Article 92
The Article provides for applying the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Law on the obligations of financial institutions, designated non-financial professions and non-profit organizations where this Law has no provision.
تطبق الأحكام الواردة في نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال المتعلقة بالتزامات المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح, وذلك
- Article 93
The Article provides for applying the provisions of the Law of Criminal Procedure where the Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law has no specific provision.
تطبق أحكام نظام الإجراءات الجزائية فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص في النظام.
- Article 94
The Article provides that this Law replaces the Law of Terrorism Crimes and Financing issued by Royal Decree No. (M/16) dated 24/2/1435 AH, and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يحل هذا النظام محل نظام جرائم الارهاب وتمويله، الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 16) وتاريخ 1435 / 2 / 24 هـ ، ويلغي ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
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.