Article 159 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 159 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الثامن: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ وإجراءات تنفيذها وضوابطه
The administrative governor assigns the security authority to keep the execution site secure, any change of the place set in the judgment goes to the court, and photography by anyone but the competent authorities is banned.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يكلف الحاكم الإداري الجهة الأمنية باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة للمحافظة على أمن مكان تنفيذ الحكم، والمنفذ فيه، والمعنيين بالتنفيذ، ومن يحضره من الناس، ومنع إحداث الفوضى أو إعاقة التنفيذ.
2 - إذا تضمن الحكم تحديدًا لمكان تنفيذه، وتبين وجود محاذير جراء التنفيذ في المكان المحدد في الحكم؛ فيعرض الأمر على المحكمة التي أصدرته للنظر في تنفيذه في مكان آخر يراعى فيه تحقق الغرض المقصود.
3 - يحظر على غير الجهات المختصة التصوير أثناء تنفيذ الأحكام.
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 159 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the organizational and security aspects of the place where sentences are carried out, in three rules:
- Keeping security: the administrative governor assigns the security authority to take the necessary measures to keep secure the place where the sentence is carried out, the person subject to the sentence, those concerned with the execution, and the people who attend, and to prevent disorder or obstruction of the execution.
- Changing the place of execution: if the judgment specifies a place for its execution and it later becomes clear that carrying it out in that place raises concerns, the executing authority does not change it on its own. The matter is presented to the court that issued the judgment to consider carrying it out in another place in which the intended purpose is achieved.
- Ban on photography: anyone other than the competent authorities is banned from photographing while sentences are carried out. The ban is general in its wording and is not limited to a particular type of sentence.
This article does not state the penalty for violating the photography ban, and it does not say which competent authorities are allowed to photograph, so details that do not appear in it should not be assumed.
This article is part of an integrated arrangement for carrying out judgments in Part Eight of the Regulations. Article 160 requires the convicted person to be brought to the place of execution without violence or psychological or physical harm, obliges the committee to verify his identity, and requires a statement of the crime, the content of the judgment, and the execution order to be read aloud. Article 158 also provides that the will of a person sentenced to death or stoning is established by the personal status court.
Anyone who needs an opinion on a matter relating to this article is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Fahd attended the carrying out of a sentence in a public square and took out his phone to film it. Under this article that conduct is banned, because photography while sentences are carried out is limited to the competent authorities.
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 159 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Is it permitted to photograph the carrying out of sentences?
No. The article bans anyone other than the competent authorities from photographing while sentences are carried out.
Can the place of execution set in the judgment be changed?
If it becomes clear that carrying out the sentence in the specified place raises concerns, the matter is presented to the court that issued the judgment to consider carrying it out in another place where the intended purpose is achieved.
Who keeps security at the execution site?
The security authority, assigned by the administrative governor, and its protection covers the person subject to the sentence, those concerned with the execution, and those attending.
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.