An informed source said other government agencies have already completed studies of the law entitled “Punishment for terrorist acts, state-security crimes and organized crimes.” The source said the law would be approved soon.
The discussion on the draft law comes at a time when a security court in Riyadh is looking into the files of 991 suspects who were involved in terrorist operations across the Kingdom since May 2003.
The source emphasized the need for such a law after the Kingdom’s judicial authorities issued different verdicts against people involved in crimes that undermine state security.
“The new law will deal with all organized crimes and activities related to terrorism, and those involved in such crimes will be given a maximum sentence of capital punishment,” said the source. Interior Minister Prince Naif said that the “criminal murderers” had carried out more than 30 terror attacks that targeted the country’s way of life, its citizens, residents, security officers and national resources.
Prince Naif described the various crimes of bombing, kidnapping and terrorizing people in the Kingdom as crimes of “Haraba” — a Qur’anic term defined as “sowing corruption and chaos on earth,” and is considered one of the most grievous crimes for which the capital punishment is set out in the Shariah.
The Supreme Judiciary Council has appointed a six-member team of experienced judges led by Abdul Mohsen Al-Asheikh, chief judge of the security court, to study the files of terror suspects. Other members of the team are Ali Al-Dubyan, Mohammed Al-Qadi, Mohammed Al-Dossari, Ali Al-Jeeri and Saad Al-Shadi.
The study of the suspects’ files will take time, the source said, adding that it would be completed by the third quarter of next year. Maximum security measures will be taken when the suspects are brought to the court for trial.
Until recently, crimes related to state security had been looked into by general courts. Saudi Arabia has announced plans to set up specialized courts for traffic, trade and personal matters.
The judges at the security court have already received documents presented by the prosecution. According to one source, there is a shortage of judges in the Ministry of Justice and since a large number of suspects are being tried, this might delay the actual hearings for some time.
Minister of Justice Abdullah Al-Asheikh said that extra precautionary measures had been taken in order to ensure privacy and maximum trial security.
The Justice Ministry will provide details of the closed sessions in light of the overwhelming interest from both the local and international media.
The accused will have the right to hire lawyers for their defense in accordance with Saudi law. A number of lawyers have reportedly refused to defend suspects charged with terrorism.
Khaled Abu Rashed, a prominent lawyer, said he would not defend terror suspects for personal reasons. “I can say that a number of my colleagues feel as I do,” he said.
