Article 165 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 165 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الثامن: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ وإجراءات تنفيذها وضوابطه
The article regulates carrying out flogging: notifying the person awarded it, not announcing the name, covering, the case of confession, the manner, instrument, and body areas, and stopping if it is unsuitable.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُبلَّغ المحكوم له بجلد خصمه لحقٍ خاصٍ بموعد تنفيذ الجلد ومكانه.
2 - لا يجوز إعلان اسم مَنْ تُنفذ فيه عقوبة الجلد إلا إذا نص الحكم على ذلك.
3 - لا يجرد المنفذ فيه عقوبة الجلد من ملابسه، ويترك عليه ما يستره من اللباس عـادة ولا يمنع وصول ألم الجلد إلى جسمه.
4 - لا يجوز ربط المنفذ فيه عقوبة ولا الإمساك به وقت تنفيذ حد الزنا أو المسكر؛ إذا ثبت الحد بالإقرار. فإن عَدَل عن إقراره، أو هرب، وجب وقف إجراءات التنفيذ، وعرض الأوراق على المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم لتقرير ما تراه.
5 - يُجلد الرجل قائماً والمرأة قاعدة، وتُشد عليها ثيابـها حتى لا ينكشف شيء من جسمها، وذلك بطريقة لا تعوق حركتها.
6 - ينفذ الجلد بخيزران، أو بسوط متوسط لا جديد يجرح ولا خَلِق لا يؤلم، وبطريقة تضمن أداء الغرض منه وهو إيلام الجاني وانزجاره، ويكون جلد الصائم ليلاً.
7 - يُفرّق الجَلْد على بدن المنفذ فيه، ويُتّقى الوجه والرأس والفرج والعظم والمَقاتل.
8 - إذا ظهر لعضو الهيئة المشرف على التنفيذ، أو لأغلبية أعضاء اللجنة التي تشهد التنفيذ؛ عدم مناسبة الجَلْد شدةً أو ضعفاً؛ فيوقف التنفيذ، وينبه منفذ الجلد إلى أدائه بحسب الصفة المقررة، أو يكلف غيره بذلك، مع احتساب ما مضى منه، ولمن له وجهة نظر من الأعضاء أن يدونـها مفصلة في محضر التنفيذ، ويكتب بها لمرجعه.
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 165 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law details how the flogging sentence is carried out. Its main points:
- Notification: the person awarded the flogging of his opponent, for a private right, is notified of the date and place of execution.
- No announcement of the name: the name of the person on whom flogging is carried out may not be announced unless the judgment so provides.
- Covering: he is not stripped of his clothes; what customarily covers him is left on him, as long as it does not prevent the pain from reaching his body.
- Case of confession: in the hadd penalty for adultery or intoxicants, when proven by confession, he may not be tied or held. If he retracts his confession or flees, the execution must be stopped and the papers presented to the court that issued the judgment.
- Position: a man is flogged standing and a woman sitting, and her clothes are fastened around her so that no part of her body is exposed, in a way that does not hinder her movement.
- Instrument and timing: with a cane or a medium whip, neither new, so that it wounds, nor worn, so that it causes no pain, and in a way that achieves its purpose of causing the offender pain and deterring him. A person who is fasting is flogged at night.
- Body areas: the lashes are spread over the body, and the face, head, genitals, bone, and vital spots are avoided.
- Oversight: if it appears to the member of the Authority supervising the execution, or to a majority of the members of the committee that witnesses it, that the flogging is unsuitable in severity or weakness, the execution is stopped and the person carrying out the flogging is instructed to perform it as prescribed, or another person is assigned, with the part already carried out counted. A member who has a different view may record it in detail in the execution record and write about it to his reference authority.
Article 166 complements these provisions by governing the case where a prison term ends before a discretionary (ta'zir) flogging is completed, and Article 157 requires a medical examination before flogging is carried out. Anyone with a particular case is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A judgment was issued to flog a person as a discretionary (ta'zir) penalty, and the date of execution fell in the daytime in Ramadan while he was fasting. Under this article he is flogged at night, and his name is not announced unless the judgment so provides.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 165 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Is the name of the person being flogged announced?
His name may not be announced unless the judgment so provides.
When is a person who is fasting flogged?
A person who is fasting is flogged at night.
What happens if the convicted person retracts his confession during the hadd penalty for adultery or intoxicants?
If the hadd penalty was proven by confession and he then retracts it or flees, the execution must be stopped and the papers presented to the court that issued the judgment so that it decides what it sees fit.
How is a woman flogged?
A woman is flogged sitting, and her clothes are fastened around her so that no part of her body is exposed, in a way that does not hinder her movement.
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.