Article 37 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 37 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: ضبط الرسائل ومراقبة المحادثات
The article provides that the rule in Article 56 of the Criminal Procedure Law covers modern, non-public electronic means of communication.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشمل حـكم المادة (السادسة والخمسين) من النظام وسائلَ التواصل الإلكترونية الحديثة غير العلنية.
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 37 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law is short but important, because it extends the rule in Article 56 of the Criminal Procedure Law to cover modern, non-public electronic means of communication.
What does this mean in practice?
- What Article 56 of the Law provides is not limited to traditional means, but extends to modern electronic means of communication.
- The condition is that the means be non-public; the rule does not cover what is published openly.
This article does not contain the text of Article 56 of the Law itself, so the text of the Law should be consulted to know the rule that has been extended to these means. The article is limited to defining the scope; it gives no examples of the means intended and sets no new procedures.
Relationship to neighboring articles: This article opens the Regulations' provisions on seizing correspondence and monitoring conversations. It is followed by Article 38 of the Regulations, which requires that seized messages, letters, printed matter and parcels be recorded in a report, and provides that seizure or monitoring of means of communication ends once its purpose is achieved, even if the period set in the order or permit has not expired.
If you are a party to a case and want to know how this provision affects your situation, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
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 37 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does the confidentiality of correspondence include electronic messages?
The article provides that the rule in Article 56 of the Criminal Procedure Law covers modern, non-public electronic means of communication.
Does the rule cover public posts on social media?
The article speaks only of non-public electronic means of communication.
More articles on Seizing Letters and Monitoring Calls
- Article 38
The article requires that seized messages, letters, printed matter and parcels be recorded in a report, and provides that seizure or monitoring ends once its purpose is achieved.
1- يجب إثبات ما يُضبط - وفقاً للمادة (السابعة والخمسين) من النظام - من الرسائل والخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود؛ في محضر يوقعه القائم بالضبط، تبين فيه أوصاف المضبوط
- Article 39
The article obliges the competent bodies to provide all available resources when the head of the Bureau orders correspondence to be seized or permits phone conversations to be monitored and recorded.
عند صدور أمر رئيس الهيئة بضبط الرسائل والخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود، أو إذنه بمراقبة المحادثات الهاتفية وتسجيلها؛ فعلى الجهات المختصة توفير جميع الإمكانات المتاح
- Article 40
The article makes notifying the accused of the contents of letters, postal and telegraph messages under Article 59 of the Law the task of the investigator or whoever he delegates.
يكون تبليغ المتهم بمضمون الخطابات والرسائل البريدية والبرقية - وفقاً للمادة (التاسعة والخمسين) من النظام - عن طريق المحقق أو من يندبه.
- Article 41
The article gives a person harmed by the disclosure, without legal justification, of information about seized items and papers by anyone referred to in Article 61 of the Law the right to sue before the competent court.
للمتضرر من قيام أيٍّ من المشار إليهم في المادة (الحادية والستين) من النظام بإفشاء معلومات عن الأشياء والأوراق المضبوطة دون مسوغ نظامي؛ حق إقامة الدعوى على المتس
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.