Article 105 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 105 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب التاسع: إجراءات الإثبات
The court may order a party to attend to be questioned, on its own or at his opponent's request, if it sees a need, and the person it decides to question must attend the session it sets.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحكمة أن تأمر بحضور الخصم لاستجوابه - سواء من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب خصمه - إذا رأت حاجة إلى ذلك، وعلى من تقرر المحكمة استجوابه أن يحضر الجلسة التي حددها أمر المحكمة.
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 105 explained in plain English
After Article 104 regulated the questioning of a party who is present, this article deals with the need to question a party who is not present, giving the court the power to order his attendance.
This may be done:
- By the court on its own initiative, or
- At the request of his opponent.
In both cases the court must see a need for it; the matter is subject to its assessment, and not every request for questioning obliges it to bring the party in.
If the court decides to question the party, he becomes obliged to attend the session set by the court's order.
Article 106 explains the rule for a party who has an acceptable excuse preventing him from attending in person: the judge goes, or appoints someone he trusts to go, to his place of residence to question him, and if he is outside the court's jurisdiction the judge delegates the court of his place of residence. Anyone who has received an order to attend for questioning and wants to know its consequences can consult a lawyer specializing in pleadings and litigation before the courts.
Practical example
In a dispute over a commercial partnership in Khobar, the defendant partner's agent attended without the partner himself. The plaintiff asked to question the partner personally, and the court saw a need for it and ordered him to attend, so he had to attend the session it set.
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 105 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can the court require my opponent to attend in person?
Yes. The court may order a party to attend to be questioned, on its own or at his opponent's request, if it sees a need for that.
Must I attend the session if the court decides to question me?
Yes. The person the court decides to question must attend the session set by the court's order.
Is the court obliged to accept a request to question my opponent?
The court orders attendance for questioning if it sees a need, so the matter is subject to its assessment.
More articles on Evidence Procedures
- Article 23
The article makes Arabic the official language of the courts, requires hearing non-Arabic speakers through an interpreter, and requires an approved translation from a licensed office for foreign-language papers.
اللغة العربية هي اللغة الرسمية للمحاكم؛ وتسمع المحكمة أقوال الخصوم والشهود ونحوهم من غير الناطقين باللغة العربية عن طريق مترجم، وتقدم ترجمة معتمدة من مكتب مرخص
- Article 67
If a defendant refuses to answer, or answers with something unrelated to the claim, the judge repeats the request for a proper answer three times in the same session; if the defendant persists, he treats them as refusing to answer after a warning.
إذا امتنع المدعى عليه عن الجواب كليًّا، أو أجاب بجواب غير ملاق للدعوى؛ كرر عليه القاضي طلب الجواب الصحيح ثلاثًا في الجلسة نفسها، فإذا أصر على ذلك عدّه ناكلًا بع
- Article 74
The presiding judge puts the questions to the parties, witnesses and others; members and parties may ask him to put their questions, and he may delegate this to a member.
رئيس الجلسة هو الذي يتولى توجيه الأسئلة إلى الخصوم والشهود وغيرهم ممن له صلة بالدعوى، ولأعضاء الدائرة المشتركين معه في الجلسة والخصوم أن يطلبوا منه توجيه ما يري
- Article 101
The article requires that facts to be proved during pleadings be related to the case, material to it, and admissible.
يجب أن تكون الوقائع المراد إثباتها أثناء المرافعة متعلقة بالدعوى منتجة فيها جائزًا قبولها.
- Article 102
If a party's evidence is in a place outside the court's jurisdiction, the court must delegate the judge of that place to hear and vet the evidence.
إذا كانت بينة أحد الخصوم في مكان خارج عن نطاق اختصاص المحكمة، فعليها أن تستخلف القاضي الذي يقع ذلك المكان في نطاق اختصاصه لسماع تلك البينة وتعديلها.
- Article 103
The court may withdraw from evidentiary procedures it ordered, provided it states the reasons in the record, and may decline to adopt a procedure's result, provided it states the reasons in its judgment.
للمحكمة أن تعدل عما أمرت به من إجراءات الإثبات، بشرط أن تبين أسباب العدول في الضبط. ويجوز لها كذلك ألا تأخذ بنتيجة الإجراء، بشرط أن تبين أسباب ذلك في حكمها.
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.