Article 38 of the Saudi Publications Law

This article sets the penalties for violating the provisions of the Law, without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided by another law. The violator is punished with one or more of the following penalties:

1. A fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, doubled if the violation is repeated.
2. Suspension from writing in all newspapers and printed materials, or from media participation through satellite channels, or from both together.
3. Closing or blocking the place of the violation, temporarily or permanently. If the place of the violation is a newspaper, the closure is carried out with the Prime Minister's approval; if it is an electronic newspaper, a website or the like, carrying out the closure or blocking is within the Minister's authority.
4. Publishing an apology by the violator in the printed material, if his violation was publishing false information or accusations against those mentioned in item 3 of Article 9 (the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, members of the Council of Senior Scholars, state officials and its employees, and any private natural or legal person), in the form the committee sees fit, at his expense, and in the same place where the violation was published.

Serious violations: if the violation amounts to an offense against the Islamic religion, or harm to the supreme interests of the state, or involves penalties within the jurisdiction of the judiciary, the committee must refer it by a reasoned decision to the Minister to submit it to the King, to consider taking the legal procedures to bring the case before the competent court, or to take what he sees as serving the public interest.

The committee meant is the primary committee provided for in Article 37. The article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/20 dated 11/4/1433 AH. Anyone facing accountability under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.