Article 54 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 54 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
The article requires, when searching a home with women whom it is not intended to arrest or search, a woman to be with those carrying out the search and the women to be allowed to veil or leave without harming the search.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة حكم المادتين (الثالثة والأربعين) و(الخامسة والأربعين) من هذا النظام، إذا كان في المسكن نساء ولم يكن الغرض من الدخول القبض عليهن ولا تفتيشهن، وجب أن يكون مع القائمين بالتفتيش امرأة، وأن يُمَكَّنّ من الاحتجاب، أو مغادرة المسكن، وأن يُمْنَحْنَ التسهيلات اللازمة لذلك بما لا يضر بمصلحة التفتيش ونتيجته.
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 54 explained in plain English
This article takes account of the privacy of women present in the home when it is searched, if the purpose of entering is not to arrest or search them.
When does it apply? When there are women in the home and the purpose of entering is not to arrest them or search them, for example where the search relates to a man of the household.
What is required?
- There must be a woman with those carrying out the search.
- The women must be allowed to veil or leave the home.
- They must be given the necessary facilities for that.
The limit: these facilities are provided in a manner that does not harm the interest and outcome of the search; the article balances privacy against protecting the purpose of the search.
Observing Articles 43 and 45: the article begins with the phrase "subject to the provisions of Articles 43 and 45", meaning that this rule applies without prejudice to what those two articles provide.
This article differs from Article 53, which deals with the situation where there is no one in the home but the female accused, and requires a woman to be with those carrying out the search. It is also linked to Article 55, which does not allow searching a person who is not the accused, or a home other than his, unless strong indications show that the search will help the investigation.
If a home with women in it was searched without these safeguards being observed, you may consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
Judicial police officers came to search a house in Al-Ahsa for evidence concerning the accused son, and his mother and sisters were in the house. A woman must be with the search team, and the women must be allowed to veil or leave the house, with this made easy for them, provided that it does not harm the interest and outcome of the search.
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 contentA question about Article 54 of Criminal Procedure Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Criminal 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
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 54 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
What happens to the women in the house when it is searched?
If the purpose is not to arrest or search them, a woman must be with those carrying out the search, and they must be allowed to veil or leave the home and be given the necessary facilities for that.
Can the search be postponed until the women leave?
The article gives the women the necessary facilities to veil or leave in a manner that does not harm the interest and outcome of the search, and does not provide for postponing the search.
Must a woman be with the search team if there are women in the house?
Yes. If there are women in the home and the purpose is not to arrest or search them, a woman must be with those carrying out the search.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 43
The article allows the judicial police officer to search the accused in cases in which he may lawfully be arrested, covering his body, clothing and belongings, and requires a woman to be searched by a woman whom the officer assigns.
يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي - في الأحوال التي يجوز فيها نظامًا القبض على المتهم - أن يفتشه. ويشمل التفتيش جسده وملابسه وأمتعته. وإذا كان المتهم امرأة وجب أن يكون ال
- Article 45
The article allows the judicial police officer to search the accused or any person in his home during the search, if indications arise that he is hiding something that helps reveal the truth.
إذا قامت أثناء تفتيش مسكن متهم قرائن ضده، أو ضد أي شخص موجود فيه - على أنه يخفي معه شيئًا يفيد في كشف الحقيقة - جاز لرجل الضبط الجنائي أن يفتشه.
More articles on Search and Seizure
- Article 41
The article establishes the inviolability of persons, their homes, offices and vehicles, and clarifies that a person's inviolability covers his body, clothing, property and belongings, and that a home includes any enclosed or fenced place or one prepared as shelter.
للأشخاص ومساكنهم ومكاتبهم ومراكبهم حرمة تجب صيانتها. وحرمة الشخص تحمي جسده وملابسه وماله وما معه من أمتعة. وتشمل حرمة المسكن كل مكان مسوّر أو محاط بأي حاجز، أو
- Article 42
The article bars entering or searching homes except in cases provided by law and under a reasoned order from the Investigation and Public Prosecution, accepts a reasoned permit from the investigator for other places, and sets specific cases of necessity.
لا يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي الدخول إلى أي مكان مسكون أو تفتيشه إلا في الأحوال المنصوص عليها نظامًا، وبأمر مسبب من هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام، وما عدا المساكن في
- Article 43
The article allows the judicial police officer to search the accused in cases in which he may lawfully be arrested, covering his body, clothing and belongings, and requires a woman to be searched by a woman whom the officer assigns.
يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي - في الأحوال التي يجوز فيها نظامًا القبض على المتهم - أن يفتشه. ويشمل التفتيش جسده وملابسه وأمتعته. وإذا كان المتهم امرأة وجب أن يكون ال
- Article 44
The article allows the judicial police officer, in a flagrant crime, to search the accused's home and seize what helps reveal the truth, if strong indications show that such items are in the home.
يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي في حال التلبس بالجريمة أن يفتش مسكن المتهم ويضبط ما فيه من الموجودات التي تفيد في كشف الحقيقة؛ إذا اتضح من أمارات قوية أنها موجودة في ال
- Article 45
The article allows the judicial police officer to search the accused or any person in his home during the search, if indications arise that he is hiding something that helps reveal the truth.
إذا قامت أثناء تفتيش مسكن متهم قرائن ضده، أو ضد أي شخص موجود فيه - على أنه يخفي معه شيئًا يفيد في كشف الحقيقة - جاز لرجل الضبط الجنائي أن يفتشه.
- Article 46
The article limits a search to looking for things relating to the crime under investigation, and requires the judicial police officer to seize what appears incidentally that it is a crime to possess or that helps in another crime, and record it.
لا يجوز التفتيش إلا للبحث عن الأشياء الخاصة بالجريمة الجاري جمع المعلومات عنها، أو التحقيق في شأنها. ومع ذلك، إذا ظهر عرضًا أثناء التفتيش وجود أشياء تعد حيازتها
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.