Article 45 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 45 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article makes the Ministry the body responsible for following up the implementation of the Law of Printed Materials and Publication and holding violators accountable according to its provisions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الوزارة هي الجهة المنوط بها متابعة تنفيذ هذا النظام، ومساءلة من يخالفه وفقًا لأحكامه.
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 45 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body responsible for applying the Law, which is the Ministry, that is, the Ministry of Media under Article 1. Under the text it has two tasks:
- Following up the implementation of the Law.
- Holding violators accountable.
The important limit is that accountability is according to its provisions, that is, by the procedures, bodies and penalties that the Law itself sets, not by any other method. The article does not create new penalties or special procedures; it identifies the body responsible for follow-up and accountability.
In practice: if you see a violation of the provisions of the Law, such as carrying on one of its activities without a license or publishing prohibited content, the body concerned with following that up is the Ministry of Media.
This article comes after Article 44, which allows, by decision of the Minister, associations to be established for printed materials and publishing activities to address their problems and coordinate their tasks, with each association setting regulations approved by the Minister. After it comes Article 46, which requires the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations of the Law within a maximum of eighteen months of its publication, to be published in the official gazette.
Anyone facing accountability by the Ministry, or who wants to report a violation, can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
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 45 of the Saudi Publications Law
Which body is responsible for applying the Law of Printed Materials and Publication?
The Ministry of Media, which is responsible for following up the implementation of the Law and holding violators accountable according to its provisions.
Does the Ministry hold violators accountable in any way it sees fit?
No. Accountability is according to the provisions of the Law.
More articles on Book Fairs, Associations and Regulations
- Article 43
The article requires the Ministry, in coordination with the relevant bodies, to set the rules governing book fairs held by private publishing and distribution houses, and to supervise them.
تضع الوزارة بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة، القواعد المنظمة لإقامة معارض الكتب من قبل دور النشر والتوزيع الأهلية وتشرف عليها.
- Article 44
The article allows associations to be established by decision of the Minister for the activities in Article 2, to address their problems and coordinate their tasks, with each association setting regulations approved by the Minister.
يجوز بقرار من الوزير إنشاء جمعيات لنشاطات مما هو منصوص عليه في المادة الثانية، لمعالجة مشكلاتها، وتنسيق مهماتها، وعلى كل جمعية أن تضع لائحة يعتمدها الوزير، توضح
- Article 46
The article requires the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations of the Law within a maximum of eighteen months of its publication, and to publish them in the official gazette.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام، في مدة أقصاها ثمانية عشر شهرًا من تاريخ نشره، وتنشر في الجريدة الرسمية.
- Article 48
The article provides that the Law replaces the Law of Printed Materials and Publication issued by Royal Decree No. M/17 dated 13/4/1402 AH, and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يحل هذا النظام محل نظام المطبوعات والنشر الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي ذي الرقم (م/17) والتاريخ 13/ 4/ 1402هـ، ويلغي ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
- Article 49
The article provides that the Law of Printed Materials and Publication is published in the official gazette and takes effect ninety days after its publication.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل به بعد تسعين يومًا من تاريخ نشره.
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.