Article 21 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law

This article sets out how protection ends, after Article 20 set out when it may be ended. It provides the following safeguards:

• a written, reasoned decision by the program administration;
• notifying the protected person of the decision at least 15 days before it takes effect.

Complaint: the body that submitted the protection request or the protected person may file a complaint directly with the Attorney General against the decision to end protection within 10 days of learning of the decision. The Attorney General must decide the complaint within 10 days of its submission, and his decision in this matter is final and cannot be appealed before any judicial body.

Note that the advance notice period (at least 15 days) is longer than the complaint period (10 days from learning of the decision), which may allow the complaint to be filed before the decision takes effect. However, the article does not provide that the complaint suspends the decision.

It is linked to Article 22, which provides that the failure to prove guilt of the person against whom the report, testimony or expertise was given does not affect the protection provided to the protected person, as long as they gave it in good faith and on serious grounds for believing that a crime covered by the Law had occurred.

Because the Attorney General's decision is final, anyone who wishes to file a complaint should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases within the period.