Article 9 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 9 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الجنائي إن وجد، والتقييم النفسي.
2- طبيعة الخطر الذي يهدد أمن الشخص المطلوب حمايته.
3- نوع وجسامة الفعل المتعلق بالجريمة ذي العلاقة بطلب الحماية.
4- قدرة الشخص المطلوب حمايته وأقاربه على التكيف مع برنامج الحماية المقرر له.
5- الحلول البديلة لحماية الشخص المطلوب حمايته دون قبوله بالبرنامج.
6- العوامل الأخرى التي ترى إدارة البرنامج مناسبة النظر فيها تبعًا لكل حالة، 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 9 explained in plain English
This article makes clear that the protection request is submitted to the program administration, which must consider specific factors when reviewing it:
- How appropriate it is to include the person to be protected in the program, including their criminal history, if any, and a psychological assessment.
- The nature of the danger threatening the safety of the person to be protected.
- The type and seriousness of the act related to the crime, that is, the crime connected to the protection request.
- The ability of the person to be protected and their relatives to adapt to the protection program set for them.
- Alternative solutions to protect the person without admitting them to the program.
- Other factors that the program administration considers appropriate to examine in each case, as specified by the Implementing Regulations.
The fifth factor shows that admission to the program is not the only way to protect a person; the administration must consider alternative ways to protect them without admitting them. Criminal history appears among the elements for assessing how "appropriate" inclusion is; the text does not say that it bars admission in itself.
The article is linked to Article 8, which allows the Attorney General to provide protection without the person's consent for no more than 30 days in cases of imminent danger, and to Article 10, which requires the program administration to notify the requesting body and the person to be protected of approval or rejection within 3 days of the request being submitted.
Practical example
Fahd submits a protection request after reporting a serious crime in Al-Qassim. The program administration considers the nature of the danger he faces, the seriousness of the crime, his criminal history if any, his and his relatives' ability to adapt to protection, and whether he could be protected through an alternative solution without admission to the program.
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 9 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Who do I submit a protection request to?
The protection request is submitted to the program administration.
Does a criminal record affect whether a protection request is accepted?
Criminal history, if any, is one of the elements the program administration considers when assessing how appropriate it is to include the person; the text does not say that it bars admission in itself.
What does the program administration consider when reviewing a request?
How appropriate inclusion is, the nature of the danger, the type and seriousness of the act related to the crime, the ability of the person and their relatives to adapt, alternative solutions, and any other factors specified by 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 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.