Article 11 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 11 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: انقضاء الدعوى الجزائية
The article provides that the pardon of some victims or heirs does not prevent the others' case from continuing, and requires observing Article 29 of the Law and Article 17 of the Regulations when the pardon is ratified.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه في الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة أو كان له أكثر من وارث؛ فلا يمنع عفو البعض من استمرار دعوى الباقين.
2 - يُراعى عند تصديق عفو المجني عليه، أو وارثه من بعده، ما جاء في المادة (التاسعة والعشرين) من النظام والمادة (السابعة عشرة) من اللائحة.
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 11 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with the case of several holders of the private right in the private criminal case, whether they are several victims or several heirs of one victim.
- The pardon of some does not forfeit the right of the rest: if some of them pardon, this does not prevent the case of the others who did not pardon from continuing. Each holder of a right controls his decision on his own right.
- Ratifying the pardon: when the pardon of the victim or his heir after him is ratified, what is in Article 29 of the Law and Article 17 of the Regulations is observed.
Article 17 of the Regulations contains provisions on this, among them:
- That ratification of the declaration of waiving the right to retaliation (qisas) and the hadd penalty for slander (qadhf) is by a judicial circuit competent by type of case.
- That the circuit records the declaration of waiving qisas in the record and issues a deed for it, while for slander it may be content with recording the declaration in the record.
- That the declaration may be recorded and ratified in any circuit competent by type of case even if it is not hearing the original case, and the circuit that recorded it sends the original deed to the circuit hearing the case.
Because matters of pardon in qisas and private rights are sensitive and depend on the details of each case, victims or heirs are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases before granting a pardon.
Practical example
A man was killed in Makkah and has three sons. One of them pardoned before a circuit competent by type of case, which recorded his declaration in the record and issued a deed for it. His pardon does not prevent his two brothers from continuing their case.
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 11 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Is the private right forfeited if one of the heirs pardons?
The pardon of some does not prevent the case of the others from continuing, according to paragraph 1 of this article.
Who ratifies a waiver of qisas?
Under Article 17 of the Regulations, ratification of a declaration of waiving the right to qisas and the hadd penalty for slander is by a judicial circuit competent by type of case.
Must the pardon be ratified in the circuit hearing the case?
No. Article 17 of the Regulations allows recording and ratifying it in any circuit competent by type of case, with the original deed sent to the circuit hearing the case.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Criminal Case and Its Lapse
- Article 2
The article requires the Authority to notify the court in writing of the names of the authorized public prosecutors, and explains that conducting the public case includes presenting evidence, producing it, and bearing the burden of proof.
1- تبعث الهيئة كتاباً إلى المحكمة بأسماء المدعين العامين المفوضين بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمامها. 2 - مباشرة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمام المحاكم المختصة ت
- Article 3
The article explains that the case meant in Article 16 of the Law is the private criminal case, and governs how the defendant and the public prosecutor are notified in it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية المشار إليها في المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة التي تشتمل على حق خاص وحق عام. 2 - لا يبلغ المدعى عليه في الدعوى ال
- Article 4
The article defines crimes requiring a private right of individuals as those whose harm is confined to the victim, and explains the effect of a complaint where there are several victims or accused.
1- الجرائم الواجب فيها حق خاص للأفراد المشار إليها في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام هي ما اقتصر الضرر فيها على المجني عليه. 2 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه
- Article 5
The article explains that the victim and heir meant in Article 18 of the Law are those with limited or no legal capacity, and requires recording what the court does when their interest conflicts with their representative's.
1- يُقصـد بالمجني عليه ووارثه المشار إليهما في المـادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام؛ من كان ناقص الأهليـة أو فاقدهـا. 2 - يُدون في ضبط الدعوى ما تجريه المحكمة التي
- Article 6
The article explains that the case mentioned in Article 19 of the Law is the public case, and sets how the court notifies whoever brought it and his duty to inform the court of what he did.
1- الدعوى المشار إليها في المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - يكون إبلاغ المحكمة لمن رفع الدعوى - في الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الماد
- Article 8
The article explains the in-law relationship and the enmity that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case, and lets any opponent request disqualification of the investigator before or during the investigation.
1- لا يشترط لقيام صلة المصاهرة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام؛ أن تكون رابطة الزوجية قائمة. 2 - العداوة التي تمنع عضو الهيئة
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.