Article 11 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 11 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المقدمة.
2- طريقة تقديم أي معلومة أو دليل طلب منه لجهة التحقيق أو المحاكمة فيما يتعلق بالجريمة محل الحماية.
3- تعاونه -في حدود الممكن- مع جميع الطلبات التي تطلبها الإدارة الأمنية بموجب أحكام النظام واللائحة.
4- الامتناع عن الأنشطة التي قد تضر به أو بأمن الإدارة الأمنية.
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 11 explained in plain English
This article provides that when the program administration approves a protection request, it specifies the obligations the protected person must fulfill, and these must include the following:
- The procedures for complying with the types of protection provided to them.
- The way of providing any information or evidence requested from them by the investigating or trial body regarding the crime that is the subject of the protection.
- Their cooperation, as far as possible, with all requests made by the Security Department under the provisions of the Law and the Implementing Regulations.
- Refraining from activities that may harm them or the security of the Security Department.
Under this article, protection is not limited to what the State provides; it is matched by obligations on the protected person, which the administration sets. The phrase "must include the following" means these four elements have to appear among the obligations the administration sets. The qualifier "as far as possible" relates to cooperation with the Security Department's requests.
The Security Department is the department responsible for applying security protection to those covered by the program, as defined in Article 1, and Article 12 provides for its establishment in each of the Ministry of Interior and the Presidency of State Security, entrusting each with applying protection or security escort within its own remit.
These obligations follow Article 10, under which the program administration, on approving the request, determines the protection procedures, mechanisms and duration and notifies the requesting body and the person within 3 days.
Practical example
Sultan is admitted to the protection program after testifying in a serious crime in Jeddah. The program administration sets his obligations, including following the protection procedures provided to him, the way he provides requested information to the investigating body, cooperating with the Security Department's requests as far as possible, and refraining from any activity that may harm him.
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 11 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
What are the duties of a person covered by witness protection?
The program administration sets their obligations, which include procedures for complying with the types of protection, the way of providing information and evidence to the investigating or trial body, cooperating with the Security Department as far as possible, and refraining from activities that may harm them or the Security Department's security.
Must a protected witness cooperate with the security authorities?
Their obligations include cooperating, as far as possible, with all requests made by the Security Department under the provisions of the Law and the Implementing Regulations.
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 10
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.
في حال الموافقة على طلب الحماية، تحدد إدارة البرنامج إجراءات وآليات الحماية اللازمة ومدتها، وتشعر الجهة المقدمة للطلب والشخص المطلوب حمايته بالموافقة خلال (ثلاث
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.