Article 10 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 10 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
The article requires the program administration to notify the requester and the person of approval or a written, reasoned rejection within 3 days, and allows a complaint to the Attorney General within 10 days, with a final decision.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
في حال الموافقة على طلب الحماية، تحدد إدارة البرنامج إجراءات وآليات الحماية اللازمة ومدتها، وتشعر الجهة المقدمة للطلب والشخص المطلوب حمايته بالموافقة خلال (ثلاثة) أيام من تاريخ تقديم الطلب. وفي حال رفض الطلب، تشعر إدارة البرنامج الجهة المقدمة للطلب والشخص المطلوب حمايته بالرفض خلال (ثلاثة) أيام من تاريخ تقديم الطلب. ويجب أن يكون الرفض مكتوباً ومسبباً، ويجوز للجهة مقدمة طلب الحماية أو للشخص المطلوب حمايته التظلم مباشرة أمام النائب العام من قرار رفض توفير الحماية أو إقرارها بصورة جزئية أو غير كافية أو تعديلها خلال (عشرة) أيام من تاريخ العلم بالقرار، وعلى النائب العام البت في التظلم خلال (عشرة) أيام من تاريخ تقديمه، ويكون قراره في هذا الشأن نهائيًّا وغير قابل للطعن فيه أمام أي جهة قضائية.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article governs what happens after a protection request has been reviewed against the factors in Article 9, and sets short periods for notification and complaint.
If the request is approved: the program administration determines the necessary protection procedures and mechanisms and their duration, and notifies the body that submitted the request and the person to be protected of the approval within 3 days of the date the request was submitted. Article 11 complements this by requiring the administration to specify the obligations the protected person must fulfill.
If the request is rejected: the administration notifies them of the rejection within 3 days of the date the request was submitted, and the rejection must be in writing and reasoned.
Complaint: the body that submitted the protection request or the person to be protected may file a complaint directly with the Attorney General against any of the following decisions:
- rejection of the protection;
- approval of protection only partially or insufficiently;
- modification of the protection.
The complaint must be filed within 10 days of learning of the decision, and the Attorney General must decide it within 10 days of its submission. His decision in this matter is final and cannot be appealed before any judicial body.
Because the complaint period is short and the Attorney General's decision is final, anyone who wishes to file a complaint should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases without delay.
Practical example
Majed submits a protection request as a witness in a serious crime in Riyadh, and the program administration approves protecting him only partially. If he considers the protection insufficient, he can file a complaint directly with the Attorney General within 10 days of learning of the decision. The Attorney General must decide it within 10 days, and his decision is final.
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 10 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
How long does it take to get a response to a protection request?
The program administration notifies the body that submitted the request and the person to be protected of approval or rejection within 3 days of the date the request was submitted.
Can I file a complaint against the rejection of a protection request?
Yes. The body that submitted the request or the person to be protected may file a complaint directly with the Attorney General within 10 days of learning of the decision.
Can the Attorney General's decision be appealed in court?
No. The Attorney General's decision on the complaint is final and cannot be appealed before any judicial body.
More articles on Requesting and Accepting Protection
- Article 5
Gives the program administration, by its decision and under the Law, the power to accept whistleblowers, witnesses, experts and victims into the program and to determine the type and duration of protection.
لإدارة البرنامج بقرار منها -وفقاً لأحكام النظام- صلاحية قبول المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا في البرنامج وتحديد نوع الحماية المقدم لهم ومدته.
- Article 6
Allows the Public Prosecutor, on the program administration's recommendation and on reciprocity, to approve foreign authorities' requests to protect a whistleblower, witness, expert or victim in the Kingdom.
للنائب العام -بناء على توصية من إدارة البرنامج ووفقاً لمبدأ المعاملة بالمثل- الموافقة على طلبات السلطات الأجنبية المختصة التي تتلقاها اللجنة الدائمة لطلبات المس
- Article 7
The article requires a reasoned request from the whistleblower, witness, expert or victim, plus a recommendation from a supervisory, law-enforcement, evidence-gathering or investigating body or the court, before admission to the program.
لا يقبل المبلِّغ أو الشاهد أو الخبير أو الضحية في البرنامج ما لم يُبنَ القبول على ما يأتي: 1- طلب مُسبب من أي منهم بتوفير الحماية. 2- توصية من الجهة الرقابية أو
- Article 8
The article allows the Attorney General to provide protection without consent, for no more than 30 days and extendable, to a person believed to face imminent danger, and to delegate some powers.
يجوز للنائب العام في حال توفر ما يبعث على الاعتقاد بإمكان تعرّض المبلِّغ أو الشاهد أو الخبير أو الضحية لخطر وشيك، توفير الحماية له دون موافقته، لمدة لا تزيد على
- Article 9
The article provides that the protection request goes to the program administration, which considers factors such as criminal history, the nature of the danger, the seriousness of the crime and alternative solutions.
يُقدم طلب الحماية إلى إدارة البرنامج، وعليها عند دراسته النظر في العوامل الآتية: 1- مدى مناسبة إدراج الشخص المطلوب حمايته في البرنامج، بما في ذلك التاريخ الجنائ
- Article 11
The article requires the program administration, on approving protection, to set the protected person's obligations, including compliance with protection measures, providing information, cooperation and avoiding harmful activities.
في حال الموافقة على طلب الحماية، تحدد إدارة البرنامج الالتزامات التي على المشمول بالحماية الوفاء بها، على أن تتضمن ما يأتي: 1- إجراءات الالتزام بأنواع الحماية ا
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.