Article 176 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 176 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب التاسع: أحكام عامة وختامية
In searching the premises of foreign embassies and international bodies and organizations with immunity, the relevant laws and rules, international customs, and international agreements must be observed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُراعى في تفتيش دور السفارات الأجنبيـة والهيئات والمنظمات الدولية ذات الحصانة القنصلية والدبلوماسية ما تقضي به الأنظمة والقواعد الصادرة في هذا الشأن، والأعراف والاتفاقيات الدولية.
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 176 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a special case of searching: searching premises that enjoy immunity.
Premises covered by the article:
- The premises of foreign embassies.
- International bodies and organizations with consular and diplomatic immunity.
What must be observed when searching these premises:
- What the laws and rules issued on this matter provide.
- International customs.
- International agreements.
The article does not itself set procedures for this search, or say whether it is permitted or when. It refers to the laws, rules, customs, and agreements mentioned, which should be consulted for the details.
This article is consistent with Article 180 of the Regulations, which provides for observing the criminal procedures specific to categories covered by special laws or international agreements, and with Article 175, which requires notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when a non-Saudi is detained on suspicion of a serious crime, so that it can consider informing his country's representation. These articles share an observance of the international character of some criminal cases.
Anyone facing a matter relating to these premises or to persons who enjoy immunity is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases or in international matters.
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 176 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
May foreign embassies be searched?
The article does not answer this directly. It requires the laws and rules issued on the matter, and international customs and agreements, to be observed when searching the premises of embassies.
Which premises does this article cover?
The premises of foreign embassies, and international bodies and organizations with consular and diplomatic immunity.
More articles on Searching Persons and Homes
- Article 28
The article sets who issues the order to search homes and the permit to search other places, what they must contain, a period of no more than seven days, and requires that a crime has actually occurred for a search to be valid.
1- يصدر أمر تفتيش المساكن من رئيس فرع الهيئة في المنطقة أو من يفوضه. 2 - يصدر إذن تفتيش غير المساكن من محقق مختص مكاناً ونوعاً. 3 - يصدر الأمر والإذن بالتفتيش ك
- Article 29
The article governs delegating an officer to search, bars carrying out a search after its period or more than once, requires informing the homeowner, and bars searching a non-accused without sufficient evidence.
1- لعضو الهيئة المختص بالتحقيق أن يُجري التفتيش بنفسه، وله أن يندب أحد رجال الضبط الجنائي المختصين لإجرائه. ولا يُشترط لإصدار أمر الندب أن يسبقه تحقيق، ولا أن ي
- Article 30
The article explains the scope of searching the accused under Article 43 of the Law, allows lawful means if he refuses, and sets controls for searching a female accused.
1- يشمل تفتيش المتهم - وفقاً للمادة (الثالثة والأربعين) من النظام - البحث عما يكون في جسده، وما يتصل به من أشياء تستمد حرمتها من هذا الاتصال، وكذا ما يحمله من أ
- Article 31
The article requires the search to stop as soon as the items related to the crime for which the search was permitted are found.
يجب وقف التفتيش فور العثور على الأشياء الخاصة بالجريمة الجاري جمع المعلومات عنها أو التحقيق في شأنها التي من أجلها أجيز التفتيش.
- Article 32
The article requires the district mayor or equivalent to attend a home search at the searcher's request if the owner, his representative or a family member cannot attend.
1- إن تعذر حضور صاحب المسكن أو من ينيبه أو أحد أفراد أسرته الكامل الأهلية المقيم معه تفتيش المسكن؛ فعلى عمدة الحي ومن في حكمه حضور التفتيش عند طلب المفتِّش ذلك.
- Article 33
The article requires a search record to be drawn up even if nothing is seized, and sets its language, the conditions for its soundness, and its additional contents.
1 - يُعد محضر التفتيش - المشار إليه في المادة (الثامنة والأربعين) من النظام - ولو لم يسفر التفتيش عن ضبط شيء. 2 - يُكتب محضر التفتيش باللغة العربية، ويُحرَّر بد
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.