| SAUDI ARABIA Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 06 February 2013 |
Chapter 5 Rights and Duties
Article 23 [Islam]
The state protects Islam; it implements its Shari'ah; it orders people to do right and shun evil; it fulfills the duty regarding God's call.
Article 24 [Holy Places]
The state works to construct and serve the Holy Places; it provides security and care for those who come to perform the pilgrimage and
minor pilgrimage in them through the provision of facilities and peace.
Article 25 [World Peace]
The state strives for the achievement of the hopes of the Arab and Islamic nation for solidarity and unity of word, and to consolidate its
relations with friendly states.
Article 26 [Human Rights]
The state protects human rights in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah.
Article 27 [Welfare Rights]
The state guarantees the rights of the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness and disability, and in old age; it supports the
system of social security and encourages institutions and individuals to contribute in acts of charity.
Article 28 [Work]
The state provides job opportunities for who-ever is capable of working; it enacts laws that protect the employee and employer.
Article 29 [Science, Culture]
The state safeguards science, literature and culture; it encourages scientific research; it protects the Islamic and Arab heritage and
contributes toward the Arab, Islamic and human civilization.
Article 30 [Education]
The state provides public education and pledges to combat illiteracy.
Article 31 [Health Care]
The state takes care of health issues and provides health care for each citizen.
Article 32 [Environment, Nature]
The state works for the preservation, protection, and improvement of the environment, and for the prevention of pollution.
Article 33 [Armed Forces]
The state establishes and equips the Armed Forces for the defence of the Islamic religion, the Two Holy Places, society, and the citizen.
Article 34 [Military Service]
The defence of the Islamic religion, society, and country is a duty for each citizen. The regime establishes the provisions of military
service.
Article 35 [Citizenship]
The statutes define the Regulations governing Saudi Arabian nationality.
Article 36 [Arrest]
The state provides security for all its citizens and all residents within its territory and no one shall be arrested, imprisoned, or have their
actions restricted except in cases specified by statutes.
Article 37 [Home]
The home is sacrosanct and shall not be entered without the permission of the owner or be searched except in cases specified by statutes.
Article 38 [Punishment, nulla poena]
Penalties shall be personal and there shall be no crime or penalty except in accordance with the Shari'ah or organizational law. There shall
be no punishment except for acts committed subsequent to the coming into force of the organizational law.
Article 39 [Expression]
Information, publication, and all other media shall employ courteous language and the state's regulations, and they shall contribute to the
education of the nation and the bolstering of its unity. All acts that foster sedition or division or harm the state's security and its public
relations or detract from man's dignity and rights shall be prohibited. The statutes shall define all that.
Article 40 [Communication]
Telegraphic, postal, telephone, and other means of communications shall be safeguarded. They cannot be confiscated, delayed, read or
listened to except in cases defined by statutes.
Article 41 [Residents' Duties]
Residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall abide by its laws and shall observe the values of Saudi society and respect its traditions
and feelings.
Article 42 [Asylum, Extradition]
The state shall grant the right to political asylum when the public interest demands this. Statutes and international agreements shall define
the rules and procedures governing the extradition of common criminals.
Article 43 [Royal Courts]
The King's Court and that of the Crown Prince shall be open to all citizens and to anyone who has a complaint or a plea against an
injustice. Every individual shall have a right to address the public authorities in all matters affecting him.
Article 23 [Islam]
The state protects Islam; it implements its Shari'ah; it orders people to do right and shun evil; it fulfills the duty regarding God's call.
Article 24 [Holy Places]
The state works to construct and serve the Holy Places; it provides security and care for those who come to perform the pilgrimage and
minor pilgrimage in them through the provision of facilities and peace.
Article 25 [World Peace]
The state strives for the achievement of the hopes of the Arab and Islamic nation for solidarity and unity of word, and to consolidate its
relations with friendly states.
Article 26 [Human Rights]
The state protects human rights in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah.
Article 27 [Welfare Rights]
The state guarantees the rights of the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness and disability, and in old age; it supports the
system of social security and encourages institutions and individuals to contribute in acts of charity.
Article 28 [Work]
The state provides job opportunities for who-ever is capable of working; it enacts laws that protect the employee and employer.
Article 29 [Science, Culture]
The state safeguards science, literature and culture; it encourages scientific research; it protects the Islamic and Arab heritage and
contributes toward the Arab, Islamic and human civilization.
Article 30 [Education]
The state provides public education and pledges to combat illiteracy.
Article 31 [Health Care]
The state takes care of health issues and provides health care for each citizen.
Article 32 [Environment, Nature]
The state works for the preservation, protection, and improvement of the environment, and for the prevention of pollution.
Article 33 [Armed Forces]
The state establishes and equips the Armed Forces for the defence of the Islamic religion, the Two Holy Places, society, and the citizen.
Article 34 [Military Service]
The defence of the Islamic religion, society, and country is a duty for each citizen. The regime establishes the provisions of military
service.
Article 35 [Citizenship]
The statutes define the Regulations governing Saudi Arabian nationality.
Article 36 [Arrest]
The state provides security for all its citizens and all residents within its territory and no one shall be arrested, imprisoned, or have their
actions restricted except in cases specified by statutes.
Article 37 [Home]
The home is sacrosanct and shall not be entered without the permission of the owner or be searched except in cases specified by statutes.
Article 38 [Punishment, nulla poena]
Penalties shall be personal and there shall be no crime or penalty except in accordance with the Shari'ah or organizational law. There shall
be no punishment except for acts committed subsequent to the coming into force of the organizational law.
Article 39 [Expression]
Information, publication, and all other media shall employ courteous language and the state's regulations, and they shall contribute to the
education of the nation and the bolstering of its unity. All acts that foster sedition or division or harm the state's security and its public
relations or detract from man's dignity and rights shall be prohibited. The statutes shall define all that.
Article 40 [Communication]
Telegraphic, postal, telephone, and other means of communications shall be safeguarded. They cannot be confiscated, delayed, read or
listened to except in cases defined by statutes.
Article 41 [Residents' Duties]
Residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall abide by its laws and shall observe the values of Saudi society and respect its traditions
and feelings.
Article 42 [Asylum, Extradition]
The state shall grant the right to political asylum when the public interest demands this. Statutes and international agreements shall define
the rules and procedures governing the extradition of common criminals.
Article 43 [Royal Courts]
The King's Court and that of the Crown Prince shall be open to all citizens and to anyone who has a complaint or a plea against an
injustice. Every individual shall have a right to address the public authorities in all matters affecting him.
Epigraphic evidence of human habitation in the southern Arabian Peninsula dates back to
the 9th Century BCE. Semitic speakers migrated from the area into Mesopotamia
establishing the Akkadian Empire in 2300 BCE. The A'adids established themselves in
South Arabia settling to the East of the Qahtan tribe. They established the Kingdom of A'ad
around the 10th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Various Kingdoms arose around the
same time throughout various parts of the peninsula incurring various invasions from Persia
that flourished until the 7th century CE. Islam arose within the Arabian Peninsula began in
620 CE eventually uniting into the first Saudi State in 1744 with the uniting of the Wahhab
and Saud family dynasties. It was conquered in 1718 by the Ottomans but revived in 1824. It
succumbed to the Al Rashid dynasty of Ha'il in 1891 but in 1902 Ibn Saud reconquered
Riyadh, the first of a series of conquests leading to the creation of the modern nation state of
Saudi Arabia in 1932. Saudi Arabia is governed according to Islamic law and the Basic Law
that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal
decree in March 1992. Human rights are enumerated in Chapter 5 (Rights and Duties),
conforms with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Saudi Arabia is a
signatory and are detailed below. For a full English translation of Saudi Arabia's
Constitution, click here.
the 9th Century BCE. Semitic speakers migrated from the area into Mesopotamia
establishing the Akkadian Empire in 2300 BCE. The A'adids established themselves in
South Arabia settling to the East of the Qahtan tribe. They established the Kingdom of A'ad
around the 10th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Various Kingdoms arose around the
same time throughout various parts of the peninsula incurring various invasions from Persia
that flourished until the 7th century CE. Islam arose within the Arabian Peninsula began in
620 CE eventually uniting into the first Saudi State in 1744 with the uniting of the Wahhab
and Saud family dynasties. It was conquered in 1718 by the Ottomans but revived in 1824. It
succumbed to the Al Rashid dynasty of Ha'il in 1891 but in 1902 Ibn Saud reconquered
Riyadh, the first of a series of conquests leading to the creation of the modern nation state of
Saudi Arabia in 1932. Saudi Arabia is governed according to Islamic law and the Basic Law
that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal
decree in March 1992. Human rights are enumerated in Chapter 5 (Rights and Duties),
conforms with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Saudi Arabia is a
signatory and are detailed below. For a full English translation of Saudi Arabia's
Constitution, click here.