Article 157 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 157 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الثامن: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ وإجراءات تنفيذها وضوابطه
The article requires a medical examination before corporal sentences are carried out, provides for referring cases of excess harm to the court, and postpones execution for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يتولى طبيب مختص إجراء كشف طبي للتحقق من الحالة الصحية للمحكوم عليه قبل تنفيذ عقوبة القتل، أو القطع، أو الرجم، أو الجلد، أو القصاص في النفس أو فيما دونها، وإذا كان المحكوم عليه ذكرًا فيتم التنفيذ دون كشف طبي إذا كانت العقوبة المراد تنفيذها هي القتل أو الرجم أو القصاص في النفس.
2 - إذا تبين من الكشف الطبي، أن ضرراً يتجاوز الآثار الطبيعية للعقوبة سيلحق المحكوم عليه من تنفيذ الحكم، فيُعِد الطبيب المختص تقريراً مفصلاً يتضمن وصف الحالة، وهل هي مؤقتة أم دائمة، وما يراه من التأجيل ومدته، أو التخفيف، أو عدم تنفيذ العقوبة أو بعضها، ويبعثه - مشفوعاً برأيه - إلى جهة التنفيذ لعرضه فوراً على المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم - إذا كان يستلزم تعديلاً لذلك الحكم - لتقرر ما تراه، وفي حال تعديله يخضع التعديل لأحكام الاعتراض المنصوص عليها في النظام واللائحة.
3 - إذا ظهر من الكشف الطبي أن المحكوم عليها حامل أو نفساء أو مرضع، فيؤجل تنفيذ عقوبة القتل، أو القطع، أو الرجم، أو الجلد، أو القصاص في النفس أو فيما دونها حتى تضع حملها، وتنتهي مدة نفاسها، وتفطم وليدها.
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 157 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law sets health safeguards before carrying out sentences of death, amputation, stoning, flogging, or retaliation (qisas) against a person or for lesser injuries.
1. Medical examination: A specialist doctor examines the convicted person to verify his or her health condition before the sentence is carried out. A male convicted person is excepted when the sentence is death, stoning, or retaliation against a person, in which case the sentence is carried out without a medical examination. Amputation, flogging, and retaliation for lesser injuries are not covered by this exception.
2. If carrying out the sentence would cause excess harm: If the examination shows that the convicted person will suffer harm beyond the normal effects of the punishment, the specialist doctor prepares a detailed report that includes:
- A description of the condition, and whether it is temporary or permanent.
- His view on postponement and its length, or on reducing the sentence, or on not carrying out the sentence or part of it.
The doctor sends the report, together with his opinion, to the execution authority, to be presented immediately to the court that issued the judgment if it requires amending the judgment, so that the court decides what it sees fit. If the judgment is amended, the amendment is subject to the provisions on objection set out in the Law and the Regulations.
3. Pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women: If the examination shows that the convicted woman is pregnant, in postpartum bleeding, or nursing, these sentences are postponed until she gives birth, her postpartum period ends, and she weans her child.
This complements Article 156, which requires a specialist doctor to attend when sentences of death, amputation, stoning, and retaliation are carried out. Anyone with a health condition relating to the carrying out of a sentence is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A flogging sentence was issued against a woman in Jeddah, and the medical examination before execution showed that she is nursing her child. Under this article, carrying out the flogging is postponed until she weans her child.
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 157 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Is a medical examination required before a flogging sentence is carried out?
Yes. A specialist doctor examines the convicted person before the flogging is carried out. The exception from examination applies only to males in sentences of death, stoning, and retaliation against a person.
Is the sentence carried out on a pregnant woman?
No. Carrying out sentences of death, amputation, stoning, flogging, and retaliation is postponed for a pregnant, postpartum, or nursing woman until she gives birth, her postpartum period ends, and she weans her child.
What happens if carrying out the sentence would seriously harm the convicted person?
The doctor prepares a detailed report with his opinion on postponement, reduction, or not carrying out the sentence, and it is presented immediately to the court that issued the judgment if it requires amending the judgment, so that the court decides what it sees fit.
More articles on Executing Criminal Judgments
- Article 149
This article of the Regulations allows any party to request reconsideration of a final judgment imposing a penalty even after it is executed or the penalty lapses, and requires both judgments to be final for a contradiction to arise.
1- يحق لأيٍّ من الخصوم طلب إعادة النظر في الحكم النهائي الصادر بالعقوبة ولو بعد تنفيذه، أو سقـوط العقوبة بالعفو أو الصلح أو وفاة المحكوم عليه. 2 - يُشترط لتحقق
- Article 150
This article of the Regulations requires an order to stay execution of a judgment issued under Article 206 of the Law to be recorded in the case record and notified immediately to the execution authority by official letter.
إذا صدر أمر إيقاف تنفيذ الحكم - وفقا للمادة (السادسة بعد المائتين) من النظام - فيدون في ضبط الدعوى، ويبلغ فوراً إلى جهة التنفيذ بكتاب رسمي.
- Article 151
If part of a criminal judgment becomes final but another part does not, a certified copy is sent to the execution authority to execute only the final part.
إذا صدر الحكم في دعوى اشتملت على حقٍّ عامٍّ وحقٍّ خاصٍّ واكتسب الحكم الصفة القطعية في أحدهما دون الآخر، أو صدر الحكم في دعوى واكتسب صفة القطعية في بعضه دون بعض،
- Article 152
The article requires the court to notify the detention administration in writing of the substance of its judgment in the cases provided for in Article 213 of the Law, so the detained accused is released at once.
تُبلِّغ المحكمةُ كتابةً إدارةَ التوقيف بمضمون الحكم الذي أصدرته في الحالات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة عشرة بعد المائتين) من النظام للإفراج عن المتهم الموق
- Article 153
The article explains when a new prison sentence starts if the stay of an earlier sentence is cancelled, to whom the cancellation request is made, and that part of a discretionary prison sentence may be stayed.
1- إذا نُص في الحكم على وقف تنفيذ عقوبة السجن التعزيرية في الحق العام، وارتكب المحكوم عليه جريمة خلال المدة المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (الرابعة عشرة ب
- Article 154
Orders to carry out criminal sentences are issued by the administrative governor, except for sentences whose execution requires an order from the King or his delegate.
فيما عدا الأحكام الجزائية التي يكون تنفيذها بعد صدور أمر من الملك أو ممن ينيبه، يصدر أمر تنفيذ الأحكام الجزائية من الحاكم الإداري.
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.