Article 7 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 7 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
No one may be placed in prison or detention, transferred or released except by a written order from the competent authority, and no prisoner or detainee may stay after the period stated in his commitment order ends.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز إيداع أي إنسان في سجن أو في دار للتوقيف أو نقله أو إخلاء سبيله إلا بأمر كتابي صادر من السلطة المختصة، ولا يجوز أن يبقى المسجون أو الموقوف في السجن أو دور التوقيف بعد انتهاء المدة المحددة في أمر إيداعه.
وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية إجراءات إيداع المسجونين والموقوفين وإثبات إيداعهم ونقلهم وإخلاء سبيلهم في السجلات التي تعد لهذا الغرض.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article is one of the most important guarantees of personal liberty in the Law, and it lays down two rules:
Rule one: a written order is a condition for every action
None of the following actions may be taken except by a written order issued by the competent authority:
- Placing any person in a prison or detention facility.
- Transferring him.
- Releasing him.
A verbal order is not enough, and it is not enough for the order to come from an authority that is not competent.
Rule two: no staying after the period ends
A prisoner or detainee may not remain in prison or in a detention facility after the period stated in his commitment order has ended.
The article then refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the procedures for committing prisoners and detainees, and for recording their commitment, transfer and release in the registers prepared for this purpose. Recording in the registers is therefore part of this guarantee, but its details are in the regulations.
It is followed by Article (8), which requires every prisoner or detainee to be searched before entry, and his money and valuables to be deposited in the safe of the prison or detention facility to be handed to him upon release or to the person he designates.
If someone believes that a relative was committed or has remained in custody without a written order or after the period has ended, it is appropriate to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases to learn the steps available.
Practical example
The detention period stated in the commitment order of Saad at a detention facility in Dammam has ended. Under this article, Saad may not remain in the facility after this period ends, and he may not be transferred to another place except by a written order from the competent authority.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 7 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Can a person be put in prison without a written order?
No. No one may be placed in a prison or detention facility, transferred or released except by a written order issued by the competent authority.
Can a prisoner stay in prison after his term ends?
No. The article states that a prisoner or detainee may not remain after the period stated in his commitment order has ended.
Where are the details of prisoners' commitment and transfer recorded?
The Implementing Regulations set the procedures for commitment, recording it, and recording transfer and release in the registers prepared for this purpose.
More articles on Admission to Prison and Release
- Article 8
Every prisoner or detainee must be searched before entry, and his money and valuables must be placed in the safe to be handed to him upon release or to the person he designates.
يجب أن يفتش كل مسجون أو موقوف قبل دخوله السجن أو دار التوقيف وأن يؤخذ ما يوجد معه من نقود أو أشياء ذات قيمة وتودع خزانة السجن أو دار التوقيف لتسليمها إليه عند ا
- Article 9
What a prisoner or detainee hides or refuses to hand over, and what someone else tries to secretly get to him in prison, is confiscated.
يصادر ما يخفيه المسجون أو الموقوف أو يمتنع عن تسليمه، أو يحاول غيره خفية توصيله إليه في السجن.
- Article 11
A convict whose stay in prison exceeds four years must go through a transition period before release, counted as part of the sentence, to make it easier to integrate him into society.
إذا زادت مدة بقاء المحكوم عليه في السجن عن أربع سنين، وجب قبل الإفراج عنه أن يمر بفترة انتقال تهدف إلى تيسير إدماجه في المجتمع بعد الإفراج عنه وتحتسب هذه الفترة
- Article 21
An administrative procedure may not delay the release of a prisoner or detainee beyond the set time.
لا يجوز أن يؤخر الإجراء الإداري الإفراج عن المسجون أو الموقوف في الوقت المحدد.
- Article 24
A prisoner or detainee is released before noon on the day after his sentence or period of detention ends, unless a general pardon provides otherwise, in which case he is released at the time set by the pardon decision.
يفرج عن المسجون أو الموقوف قبل ظهر اليوم التالي لانقضاء العقوبة أو مدة الإيقاف، وذلك ما لم يصدر عفو عام عن الجريمة أو العقوبة أو جزء منها فيتم الإفراج عن المسجو
- Article 26
The period a detainee spends in a detention facility is deducted from the sentence imposed on him.
تخصم المدة التي يقضيها الموقوف في دار التوقيف من المدة المحكوم بها عليه.
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.