Article 14 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 14 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
The article lists the types of protection a protected person may receive in whole or in part, including security protection, concealment of data, relocation, change of residence and financial assistance.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتمتع الشخص المشمول بالحماية وفقاً لما تقرره إدارة البرنامج وما تقتضيه إجراءات الحماية بكل أو بعض أنواع الحماية الآتية:
1- الحماية الأمنية.
2- إخفاء بياناته الشخصية، وكل ما يدل على هويته طوال فترة الحماية.
3- نقله من مكان عمله -مؤقتاً أو دائماً- بالتنسيق مع جهة عمله.
4- مساعدته في الحصول على عمل بديل لعمله، إن اقتضى الأمر تركه لعمله.
5- تقديم الإرشاد القانوني والنفسي والاجتماعي.
6- منحه وسائل للإبلاغ الفوري عن أي خطر يهدده أو يهدد أي شخص من الأشخاص وثيقي الصلة به.
7- تغيير أرقام هواتفه.
8- تغيير محل إقامته، مؤقتاً أو دائماً، وتوفير بدائل مناسبة، بما في ذلك نقله إلى منطقة أو مدينة أخرى داخل المملكة بحسب الأحوال.
9- اتخاذ إجراءات كفيلة بسلامة تنقله، بما في ذلك توفير مرافقة أمنية له.
10- التنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة للإدلاء بالمعلومات فيما يخص الجريمة محل الحماية باستخدام الوسائط الإلكترونية، مع تغيير صوته وإخفاء ملامح وجهه.
11- حماية مسكنه.
12- مساعدته ماليًّا في حال تسبب شموله بالحماية في تعطيل قدرته على الاكتساب.
13- أي أنواع حماية أخرى ترى إدارة البرنامج مناسبتها وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article is the Law's list of protection tools. A protected person receives all or some of them, as decided by the program administration and as required by the protection measures, so not everyone necessarily receives all of them. They are:
- Security protection.
- Concealing their personal data and everything that indicates their identity throughout the protection period.
- Moving them from their workplace, temporarily or permanently, in coordination with their employer.
- Helping them obtain alternative work, if they have to leave their job.
- Providing legal, psychological and social guidance.
- Giving them the means to report immediately any danger threatening them or any of the people closely connected to them.
- Changing their phone numbers.
- Changing their place of residence, temporarily or permanently, and providing suitable alternatives, including moving them to another region or city within the Kingdom as the case may be.
- Taking measures to ensure the safety of their movement, including providing a security escort.
- Coordinating with the relevant bodies so that they can give information about the crime that is the subject of the protection by electronic means, with their voice altered and their facial features concealed.
- Protecting their home.
- Providing them with financial assistance if being covered by protection disrupts their ability to earn a living.
- Any other types of protection that the program administration considers appropriate, as specified by the Implementing Regulations.
Note that financial assistance is conditional on coverage by protection being the cause of the disruption to the person's ability to earn a living. The last item also makes the list open-ended, but any addition is made as specified by the Implementing Regulations.
Article 1 provides that protection is according to the types set out in this article. It is linked to Article 13, which requires the program administration to respect the protected person's rights and freedoms and not restrict them except by necessary restrictions, and to Article 15, which makes the data of protected persons confidential and not to be disclosed except in the cases set out in the Law.
Practical example
An employee of a company in Riyadh reports a serious crime and is admitted to the protection program after being threatened. The program administration may decide to move her from her workplace in coordination with the company, change her phone numbers, and give her a means to report any danger immediately. If her ability to earn a living is disrupted because she is covered by protection, she can be given financial assistance.
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 14 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
What types of protection does a witness receive in Saudi Arabia?
They include security protection, concealing personal data, moving them from their job or helping them find alternative work, legal, psychological and social guidance, changing phone numbers and residence, security escort, protecting the home, financial assistance, and any other types under the Implementing Regulations.
Does a protected witness receive financial assistance?
They may be given financial assistance if being covered by protection disrupts their ability to earn a living.
Can a whistleblower be moved from their workplace?
Yes. One type of protection is moving them from their workplace, temporarily or permanently, in coordination with their employer.
More articles on Types of Protection for Witnesses and Whistleblowers
- 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
- Article 12
The article establishes a Security Department in each of the Ministry of Interior and the Presidency of State Security to apply protection or security escort for protected persons, leaving its tasks to the Implementing Regulations.
تنشأ وفق أحكام النظام إدارة أمنية في كل من: (وزارة الداخلية، ورئاسة أمن الدولة) يوكل إليها تطبيق الحماية أو المرافقة الأمنية للمشمولين بالحماية كلٌ فيما يخصه، و
- Article 13
The article requires the program administration, in coordination with relevant bodies, to protect the protected person from injury and ensure their health, safety and social adaptation, while respecting their rights and freedoms.
على إدارة البرنامج -بالتنسيق مع الجهات المعنية- اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لوقاية المشمول بالحماية من الإصابة الجسدية، وضمان صحته وسلامته وتكيّفه الاجتماعي، طوال ف
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.