Article 8 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 8 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 (ثلاثين) يوماً، ويجوز للنائب العام -عند الاقتضاء- زيادة هذه المدة، ويجوز له بقرار مكتوب تفويض بعض صلاحياته إلى رؤساء فروع النيابة العامة.
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 8 explained in plain English
Under Article 7, the rule is that admission to the program rests on a reasoned request from the person and a recommendation from a competent body. This article deals with an urgent exceptional case: imminent danger.
Where there is reason to believe a whistleblower, witness, expert or victim may be exposed to imminent danger, the Attorney General may:
- provide protection to that person without their consent;
- for a period of no more than 30 days; and
- extend that period where necessary.
The Attorney General may also, by written decision, delegate some of these powers to the heads of the Public Prosecution branches.
Note that the text is permissive: this is a discretionary power of the Attorney General, not an obligation. The article also sets no upper limit on the period once it is extended; the extension is tied to necessity. The condition for applying it is that there is reason to believe imminent danger exists, not merely a general possibility.
Article 9 follows, providing that the protection request is submitted to the program administration and listing the factors it considers when reviewing it, including the nature of the danger threatening the safety of the person to be protected and the type and seriousness of the act related to the crime.
Practical example
Information reaches the Public Prosecution suggesting that a witness in a serious criminal case in Riyadh may be attacked within days, although he has not requested protection. The Attorney General may decide to protect him without his consent for no more than 30 days, and may extend that period if necessary.
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 8 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Can a witness be protected without their consent?
Yes. The Attorney General may do so where there is reason to believe the person may face imminent danger, for a period of no more than 30 days.
Can emergency protection be extended beyond 30 days?
The Attorney General may extend the period where necessary.
Can the Attorney General delegate this power?
By written decision, the Attorney General may delegate some of his powers to the heads of the Public Prosecution branches.
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 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
- 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.