Article 17 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 17 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
Prison and detention administrations must ensure a Muslim can perform his religious rites and provide the means, and each must have one or more religious counselors and one or more social and psychological specialists.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على إدارات السجون ودور التوقيف أن تكفل محافظة المسلم في السجن أو دار التوقيف على إقامة شعائره الدينية الإسلامية وأن تهيئ له الوسائل اللازمة لأدائها.
ويكون لكل سجن أو دار للتوقيف مرشد أو أكثر من الدعاة المتخصصين في الدعوة إلى الله وهداية النفوس وحثهم على الفضيلة ومراقبة أدائهم لشعائرهم الدينية. كما يكون له أخصائي أو أكثر في العلوم الاجتماعية والنفسية على الوجه الذي تبينه اللائحة التنفيذية .
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 17 explained in plain English
This article establishes three matters relating to the religious, psychological and social side inside prisons and detention facilities:
1. A Muslim's right to perform his rites
Prison and detention administrations must ensure that a Muslim in prison or a detention facility is able to keep up his Islamic religious rites, and must provide him the means necessary to perform them. The obligation here rests on the administration, and it is an obligation to enable and to provide the means.
2. The presence of counselors
Each prison or detention facility has one or more counselors from among preachers specialized in calling to God, guiding souls, encouraging them to virtue, and monitoring their performance of their religious rites. These are the counselors' tasks according to the text.
3. The presence of specialists
Each prison or detention facility has one or more specialists in social and psychological sciences, in the manner set out by the Implementing Regulations.
This article is consistent with the Law's orientation toward rehabilitating convicts. It comes after Article (16), which makes the employment of prisoners and detainees subject to rules set by the Ministry of Interior jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and before Article (18), which deals with curricula for education and cultural instruction, examinations and the library inside prisons and detention facilities.
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 17 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Is a prisoner entitled to pray and perform religious rites?
Yes. Prison and detention administrations must ensure that a Muslim can keep up his Islamic religious rites and must provide him the means necessary to perform them.
Are there psychological specialists in prisons?
The article provides that each prison or detention facility has one or more specialists in social and psychological sciences, in the manner set out by the Implementing Regulations.
What is the role of the religious counselor in prison?
Calling to God, guiding souls, encouraging inmates to virtue, and monitoring their performance of their religious rites.
More articles on Rights of Prisoners and Detainees
- Article 10
The Implementing Regulations set the rules for classifying prisoners by type and seriousness of crime, repetition and length of sentence, and the bases that make their rehabilitation easier.
تضع اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد تقسيم المسجونين وفقا لنوع الجرائم المحكوم عليهم من أجلها وخطورتها وتكرار ارتكابها ووفقا لمدد العقوبة وللأسس التي تيسر تقويم المحكوم
- Article 12
The Implementing Regulations set rules for visits, correspondence and the treatment of detainees, including food at their own expense and their own clothing, and the Minister of Interior may grant some of these privileges to a category of convicts.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد زيارة المسجونين والموقوفين ومراسلاتهم كما تضع قواعد معاملة الموقوفين وجواز حصولهم على طعام على نفقتهم الخاصة وارتدائهم زيهم الخاص ف
- Article 16
The employment of prisoners and detainees follows rules set by the Ministry of Interior jointly with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
يكون تشغيل المسجونين والموقوفين وفق قواعد تضعها وزارة الداخلية بالاشتراك مع وزارة العمل والشئون الاجتماعية .
- Article 18
The Ministry of Interior sets education curricula in prisons with the competent authorities, the Implementing Regulations set examination rules, a library is established, and prisoners may bring in books and newspapers at their own expense.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالاتفاق مع الجهات المختصة المسئولة عن التعليم والتوعية مناهج التعليم والتثقيف داخل السجون ودور التوقيف . وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد وإجرا
- Article 19
The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the competent authorities, sets social service programs inside prisons and detention facilities and for the families of prisoners and detainees.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة برامج للخدمة الاجتماعية داخل السجون ودور التوقيف ، ولأسر المسجونين والموقوفين.
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.