Article 213 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 213 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب التاسع: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ
The article requires the immediate release of a detained accused if he is found not guilty, sentenced to a penalty that does not require imprisonment, or has served the penalty during his detention.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُفْرَجُ في الحال عن المتهم الموقوف إذا كان الحكم صادرًا بعدم الإدانة، أو بعقوبة لا يقتضي تنفيذها السجن، أو إذا كان المتهم قد قضى مدة العقوبة المحكوم بها أثناء توقيفه.
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 213 explained in plain English
This article protects the liberty of a detained accused after judgment, and requires his immediate release in three cases:
- A judgment of non-conviction: The court concludes that he is not guilty.
- A judgment imposing a penalty whose execution does not require imprisonment: For example, where the penalty imposed is something other than imprisonment, so there is no justification for keeping him detained.
- Having served the penalty during detention: The period he spent in detention equals or exceeds the period of the penalty imposed.
The words "immediately" mean that release is to be carried out at once when any of these cases is met, so the accused does not remain detained in any of them.
This article is connected with those around it:
- Article 212 provides that criminal judgments may not be executed unless they have become final.
- Article 214 allows the court to postpone execution of a judgment for substantial reasons, and to suspend execution of a discretionary prison sentence in the public right on conditions.
Anyone whose relative is detained, and a judgment has been issued in one of these cases without release, would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
Majed was detained in Riyadh for two months pending a case, and the court then sentenced him to two months in prison. Since he served the penalty imposed during his detention, this article requires his immediate release.
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 213 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Is a detainee released immediately if he is acquitted?
Yes. The article requires the immediate release of a detained accused if the judgment is one of non-conviction.
If a detainee is sentenced to a penalty other than prison, does he stay detained?
No. He is released immediately if the penalty imposed does not require imprisonment.
What if the detainee has spent a period in detention equal to the penalty?
He is released immediately if he has served the penalty imposed during his detention.
More articles on Enforcing Criminal Judgments
- Article 10
The article provides that judgments issued by the court of appeal, or upheld by it, for death, stoning, amputation or qisas (retaliation) are not final until upheld by the Supreme Court.
الأحكام الصادرة من محكمة الاستئناف أو المؤيدة منها بالقتل، أو الرجم، أو القطع، أو القصاص في النفس أو فيما دونها، لا تكون نهائية إلا بعد تأييدها من المحكمة العلي
- Article 14
The article requires all officers of public authority to carry out the orders of judicial bodies issued under the Law, and allows them to use the appropriate means to carry them out.
على جميع رجال السلطة العامة أن ينفذوا أوامر الجهات القضائية الصادرة طبقًا لهذا النظام، ولهم أن يستعملوا الوسيلة المناسبة لتنفيذها.
- Article 204
The article lets any party request reconsideration of final judgments imposing a penalty in five defined cases, including the alleged murder victim appearing alive, forged evidence, or new evidence coming to light.
يحق لأي من الخصوم أن يطلب إعادة النظر في الأحكام النهائية الصادرة بالعقوبة في الأحوال الآتية: 1 - إذا حكم على المتهم في جريمة قتل ثم وُجِد المُدَّعَى قتله حيًّا
- Article 206
The article provides that acceptance of a reconsideration request does not stay execution of the judgment unless it imposes a corporal penalty of retaliation, a fixed penalty or a discretionary penalty, and otherwise allows the court to order a stay.
لا يترتب على قبول المحكمة طلب إعادة النظر وقف تنفيذ الحكم إلا إذا كان صادرًا بعقوبة جسدية من قصاص أو حد أو تعزير، وفي غير ذلك يجوز للمحكمة أن تأمر بوقف التنفيذ
- Article 210
The article defines final judgments as those that acquire finality by not being objected to within the legal period or by being upheld by, or issued by, the Supreme Court, subject to Articles 194 and 199.
الأحكام النهائية هي الأحكام المكتسبة للقطعية؛ إما بعدم الاعتراض عليها خلال المدة المحددة نظامًا، أو بتأييد الحكم من المحكمة العليا أو صدوره منها، وذلك مع عدم ال
- Article 212
The article provides that criminal judgments may not be executed until they become final.
الأحكام الجزائية لا يجوز تنفيذها إلا إذا أصبحت نهائية.
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.