A Supreme Royal Decree has been issued on Monday, February 4, 2019, ratifying the General Pardon Law in the form that was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate had approved in its third session, under the chairmanship of Acting Speaker of the Council Dr. Marouf Bakhit and in the presence of the Ministry of the Cabinet on the House of Representative's decisions, as amended by the Senate.

According to the General Pardon Law, crimes, violations and offenses, and all criminal proceedings and their consequences under the legislation, including penalties are exempted, provided that they took place prior to the King's directives to the government to issue the law on December 12, 2018.

The law provides for the release of detainees and convicted persons who are covered by the law by an order issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office to the competent authorities. As for cases pending before courts or the public prosecution or any other body, the court or that body shall issue the necessary decisions in accordance with the law, provided that it does not affect the validity of the judgments and decisions that were executed before the law came into force.

The law does not prohibit the personal prosecution of the civil plaintiff, nor the enforcement of the sentence, nor does it prevent the confiscation, destruction or disposition of the goods for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws.

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