Article 23 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 23 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
When a prisoner or detainee dies a detailed medical report is prepared and submitted by the prison director, the family is notified to receive the body, or else it is buried in a local cemetery, and a body with an epidemic disease is not transferred.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا توفي المسجون أو الموقوف فيجب إعداد تقرير طبي تفصيلي عنه. وعلى مدير السجن رفع هذا التقرير إلى الجهة المختصة مع إشعار أهل المسجون أو الموقوف للحضور لتسليم جثته، فإذا لم يحضروا في الوقت المحدد دفنت الجثة في مقبرة بالجهة الكائن بها السجن أو دار التوقيف.
ولا يسمح لأهل المتوفى بنقل جثته إذا كانت مصابة بمرض وبائي أو كان نقلها يهدد الصحة العامة.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article regulates what must be done when a prisoner or detainee dies:
- A detailed medical report: a detailed medical report must be prepared about the deceased.
- Submitting the report: the prison director must submit this report to the competent authority.
- Notifying the family: the family of the prisoner or detainee is notified to attend to receive his body.
- If the family does not attend: if they do not attend at the set time, the body is buried in a cemetery in the area where the prison or detention facility is located.
An exception to the right to transfer the body: the family of the deceased are not allowed to transfer the body in two cases:
- If it is infected with an epidemic disease.
- If transferring it threatens public health.
It is noted that the text makes preparing the detailed medical report mandatory in every case of death, and makes the prison director responsible for submitting it and for notifying the family. The text does not specify the length of the "set time" for the family to attend, or the competent authority to which the report is submitted.
The article comes after Article (22), which refers to the regulations the rules on health care, treatment and health-related release, and before Article (24) on the time of release. The family of the deceased may consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases if they have questions about the circumstances of the death.
Practical example
A detainee died in a detention facility in Tabuk. A detailed medical report on the death was prepared, the facility director submitted it to the competent authority, and his family was notified to attend to receive the body. Had they not attended at the set time, he would have been buried in a cemetery in Tabuk.
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 23 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
What happens if a prisoner dies?
A detailed medical report must be prepared about him, the prison director submits it to the competent authority, and his family is notified to attend to receive his body.
What if the family of the deceased prisoner does not attend?
If they do not attend at the set time, the body is buried in a cemetery in the area where the prison or detention facility is located.
When is a prisoner's family prevented from transferring his body?
If the body is infected with an epidemic disease or its transfer threatens public health.
More articles on Medical Release and Death of a Prisoner
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.