Article 18 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 18 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تضع وزارة الداخلية بالاتفاق مع الجهات المختصة المسئولة عن التعليم والتوعية مناهج التعليم والتثقيف داخل السجون ودور التوقيف .
وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية قواعد وإجراءات الامتحانات بالنسبة للمسجونين والموقوفين في المراحل الدراسية المختلفة.
وتنشأ في كل سجن و دار للتوقيف مكتبة تحوي كتبا دينية وعلمية وأخلاقية ليستفيد منها المسجونون والموقوفون في أوقات فراغهم.
ويسمح للمسجونين والموقوفين باستحضار كتب أو صحف أو مجلات على نفقتهم الخاصة وذلك وفقا لما تقرره 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 18 explained in plain English
This article regulates education and cultural instruction inside prisons and detention facilities in four respects:
- Curricula for education and cultural instruction: set by the Ministry of Interior in agreement with the competent authorities responsible for education and awareness.
- Examinations: the Implementing Regulations determine the rules and procedures for examinations for prisoners and detainees at the various school stages. This indicates that a prisoner or detainee can sit examinations under those rules.
- The library: a library containing religious, scientific and moral books is established in every prison and detention facility, for prisoners and detainees to benefit from in their free time.
- Private books and newspapers: prisoners and detainees are allowed to bring in books, newspapers or magazines at their own expense, in accordance with what the Implementing Regulations decide.
The text does not specify the school stages available or the controls on which books may be brought in; these are left to the Implementing Regulations and the authorities mentioned.
The article comes after Article (17), which requires ensuring that a Muslim can perform his religious rites and providing counselors and social and psychological specialists, and before Article (19), which tasks the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the competent authorities, with setting social service programs inside prisons and detention facilities and for the families of prisoners and detainees.
Practical example
Turki was a secondary school student when he was sentenced to prison in Taif. Under this article, he can sit examinations under the rules and procedures set by the Implementing Regulations and benefit from the prison library, and he may also bring in books at his own expense as the regulations decide.
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 18 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Can a prisoner continue his education?
The article provides that the Implementing Regulations determine the rules and procedures for examinations for prisoners and detainees at the various school stages.
Are there libraries in prisons?
Yes. A library containing religious, scientific and moral books is established in every prison and detention facility.
Is a prisoner allowed to bring in books and newspapers?
Prisoners and detainees are allowed to bring in books, newspapers or magazines at their own expense, in accordance with what the Implementing Regulations decide.
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 17
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.
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 ل
- 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.