Article 161 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 161 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الثامن: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ وإجراءات تنفيذها وضوابطه
In retaliation (qisas) judgments the executing authority notifies the right holder in writing of the date and place, and execution takes place only in his or her presence or that of a representative; the killing is carried out by the person designated for it unless the judgment provides otherwise.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا كان الحكم يتضمن قصاصاً في النفس أو فيما دونها، فعلى جهة التنفيذ أن تُبلغ كتابةً مَنْ له الحق في القصاص - بحسب الحال - بموعد التنفيذ ومكانه، ولا ينفذ إلا بحضوره، أو من ينوب عنه.
2 - يتولى تنفيذ القتل قصاصاً مَنْ عُيِّن لهذا الغرض، ما لم ينص الحكم على خلاف ذلك مراعاةً لما تقضي به الضوابط الشرعية في هذا الشأن.
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 161 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law concerns judgments that include retaliation (qisas) against a person or for lesser injuries, and sets two rules:
1. Notifying the right holder and his presence
- The executing authority must notify the person who holds the right to retaliation, as the case may be, in writing of the date and place of execution.
- Retaliation is not carried out except in the presence of the right holder or his representative. Under the wording of the article, his presence or that of his representative is a condition for execution.
2. Who carries out killing as retaliation
Killing as retaliation is carried out by the person designated for this purpose, unless the judgment provides otherwise in view of what the Sharia rules require on this matter. The article does not set out those rules; it leaves it to the judgment to provide otherwise where necessary.
This article is linked to Article 155 of the Regulations, which gives the administrative governor the power to determine who carries out retaliation and other judgments and requires that person to be of good character, to know how to carry out the sentence, not to be a member of the prison administration, and not to be related to the person subject to the sentence up to the fourth degree or hostile to him. Article 160 also requires verifying the identity of the convicted person by matching fingerprints in retaliation judgments, and Article 162 provides that, where there are several convicted persons, they are not brought down to the place of execution all at once.
Families of victims or convicted persons who have questions about the execution procedures are advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A final judgment was issued for retaliation against a person, and the heirs of the victim held the right to retaliation. The executing authority sent them a written notice of the date and place of execution, and execution does not take place except in their presence or that of their representative.
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 161 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Must the victim's family (holders of the right to retaliation) be present when retaliation is carried out?
Yes. Retaliation is not carried out except in the presence of the person who holds the right to it or his representative.
How is the right holder notified of the date of retaliation?
The executing authority notifies him in writing of the date and place of execution.
Who carries out killing as retaliation?
The person designated for this purpose, unless the judgment provides otherwise in view of the Sharia rules.
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.