Article 9 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
المادة 9 من نظام الحماية من الإيذاء
The article permits the Ministry to call on the security authorities where an abuse case needs urgent intervention or entry to the place of the incident, and requires those authorities to respond at once.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تبين للوزارة أن التعامل مع حالة الإيذاء تستلزم التدخل العاجل أو الدخول إلى المكان الذي حدثت فيه واقعة الإيذاء ؛ فلها الاستعانة بالجهات الأمنية المختصة، وعلى تلك الجهات الاستجابة الفورية للطلب وفقاً لطبيعة كل حالة ودرجة خطورتها.
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 9 explained in plain English
The Ministry may sometimes need to act quickly or to enter the place where the abuse occurred, such as a home, which it cannot do alone. This article therefore provides the following:
- When? If the Ministry finds that dealing with the case of abuse requires urgent intervention or entering the place where the incident of abuse took place.
- What does the Ministry do? It may call on the competent security authorities.
- What is the security authorities' duty? They must respond to the request at once, according to the nature of each case and the degree of its seriousness.
So calling on them is at the Ministry's discretion according to its assessment of the case, whereas responding is a duty of the security authorities whenever they are asked, taking into account the nature and seriousness of the case in how they respond.
This article is linked to Article 8, which deals with dangerous cases that threaten the victim's life, safety or health, and what is required in them: notifying the administrative governor or the security authorities and moving the victim or the abuser to shelter. It is followed by Article 10, which requires the Ministry to take into account the degree, type and frequency of violence when dealing with the case.
A person who needs to understand the procedures in a particular case can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
The Ministry receives a report about a child in Medina who is locked in a room and beaten, and his family refuses to open the door to the Ministry's staff. Because the case requires entering the place and urgent intervention, the Ministry may call on the security authorities, who must respond at once according to the seriousness of the case.
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 9 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
Does the social affairs ministry have the right to enter a home in abuse cases?
If dealing with the case requires entering the place where the abuse occurred, the Ministry may call on the competent security authorities, who must respond at once.
Are the security authorities obliged to help the Ministry?
Yes. The security authorities must respond at once to the Ministry's request according to the nature of each case and its degree of seriousness.
More articles on Procedures to Protect Abuse Victims
- Article 7Amended by M/72
The article sets the steps the Ministry takes on receiving an abuse report, after documenting it and assessing the case, from health care and preventing repetition to enabling the victim to recover documents and belongings.
تباشر الوزارة فور تلقيها بلاغاً عن حالة إيذاء - بعد توثيق البلاغ وإجراء تقويم للحالة - باتخاذ أيٍّ من الإجراءات التالية: 1 - اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة التي تكفل ت
- Article 8
The article requires the Ministry, in cases dangerous to the victim's life, safety or health, to take the necessary measures, including notifying the competent authorities and moving the victim or the abuser to shelter.
دون إخلال بما نصت عليه المادة (السابعة) من هذا النظام، على الوزارة إذا ظهر لها من البلاغ خطورة الحالة أو أنها تشكل تهديداً لحياة من تعرض للإيذاء أو سلامته أو صح
- Article 10
The article requires the Ministry to take into account the degree, type and frequency of violence, avoid treatment that harms the victim or her family or living situation, and give priority to guidance and prevention unless the case requires otherwise.
تراعي الوزارة - عند تعاملها مع أي من حالات الإيذاء - درجة العنف المستخدم ونوعه ومدى تكراره ، وألا يترتب على اللجوء إلى أيٍّ من الوسائل المستخدمة لمعالجته ضرر أش
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.