Article 7 of the Saudi Reconciliation Committees Regulation
المادة 7 من اللائحة التنظيمية للجان إصلاح ذات البين في إمارات المناطق
Article 7 sets when the committee begins to seek reconciliation, requiring Supreme Court affirmation of the judgment, the Emir's direction or permission, and that the case is not one of certain excluded killings.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تبدأ اللجنة أعمال السعي في الصلح بعد تعميد الإمارة من وزارة الداخلية بتنفيذ أحكام القتل، وعلى اللجنة قبل البدء في أعمالها التحقق من توافر الشروط الآتية:
1- أن يكون الحكم الصادر في القضية قد تم تأييده من المحكمة العليا.
2- أن يكون طلب السعي في الصلح ورد إلى اللجنة بتوجيه من أمير المنطقة، وللجنة قبول الطلب من غيره، على أن ترفعه مباشرة إلى أمير المنطقة مشفوعًا بما يسوّغه، لأخذ الإذن منه في البدء في أعمالها.
3- ألَّا تكون القضية المحكوم فيها من قضايا جرائم القتل التي ترتبط بأعمال الخطف، أو السرقة، أو فعل فاحشة الزنا أو اللواط، أو التمثيل بالقتيل، أو تبييت النية بالقتل.
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 is one of the most important articles of the Regulation because it sets when reconciliation can be sought.
When it starts: the committee begins the work of seeking reconciliation after the Ministry of Interior instructs the Emirate to carry out the death sentences.
The conditions the committee must check before starting:
- The judgment in the case has been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
- The request to seek reconciliation reaches the committee on the direction of the Emir of the Region. The committee may accept the request from others, but must submit it directly to the Emir of the Region with what justifies it, to obtain his permission to start.
- The case is not one of the killings connected with acts of kidnapping, theft, committing the indecency of adultery or sodomy, mutilating the victim's body, or premeditated intent to kill.
The third condition excludes certain types of killing cases from the committee's work; the committee does not seek reconciliation in them. The text does not address the effect of that on the rights of the victim's heirs themselves.
Article 8 requires the committee to check that these conditions are met after the request is received. To assess whether these conditions apply to a particular case, one may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A qisas judgment is issued against a young man in a brawl case and affirmed by the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Interior then instructs the Emirate to carry it out. His father submits a request to seek reconciliation directly to the committee, which submits it to the Emir of the Region with what justifies it. After his permission it begins its work, because the case is not one of the excluded crimes.
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 7 of the Saudi Reconciliation Committees Regulation
When does the reconciliation committee begin to seek reconciliation?
After the Ministry of Interior instructs the Emirate to carry out the death sentences, and after checking that the conditions in the article are met.
Can the committee seek reconciliation before the Supreme Court affirms the judgment?
No. The judgment must have been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Which killing cases does the committee not seek reconciliation in?
Cases connected with kidnapping, theft, committing the indecency of adultery or sodomy, mutilating the victim's body, or premeditated intent to kill.
Can a reconciliation request be submitted to the committee directly?
Yes. The committee may accept the request from someone other than the Emir of the Region, but it must submit it directly to him to get permission before starting.
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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.