Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Spying against one's own country in collaboration with foreign agencies is a major crime as it undermines the country’s security and stability, said legal and prosecution experts. They added that such individuals should be awarded capital punishment as a deterrent.

No Muslim is allowed to provide secret information about his country to foreign intelligence agencies or suspicious organizations, they said. It goes against the solid principles of the Islamic faith and the nation. It will not only endanger the country’s security but also its unity.

They made this comment while denouncing the act of treason by a group of individuals who allegedly established contacts with suspicious foreign agencies and tried to obtain secret and sensitive information related to national security from government websites.

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Saaedi, former chief justice at Rabigh Court and a legal consultant, said the public prosecutor leveled charges against the alleged spies based on investigation results.

“They are accused of treason and conspiracy against the nation,” he said, adding that punishment for such crimes includes death sentence. “The punishment will be determined on the basis of investigation and charges leveled by the prosecutor,” he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

Legal consultant Majed Garoub emphasized that the national security and stability, security of the holiest places of Muslims in the Kingdom, and national unity are red lines that will not be allowed to cross as instructed by the Shariah and the Kingdom’s laws.

“Suspicious contacts with foreign intelligence agencies is considered a involvement in the crime of spying against the nation,” Garoub told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

He said treason and spying for the enemy are considered crimes as if spreading corruption on the earth. “It’s one of the big crimes that deserve death punishment,” he added.

Saleh Misfer Al-Ghamdi, a former member of the public prosecution team and an authorized lawyer at the Justice Ministry, said a specialized criminal court would issue its verdict on the suspected criminals involved in spying against the Kingdom.

“Article 12 of the Basic Law of Governance emphasizes the need to strengthen national unity and protect it from strife and division,” he added.

Legal consultant Saeed Al-Malki commended the security agencies for arresting the individuals of the spy racket, adding that it was a job well done to protect national security.

Former public prosecutor Saad Misfer Al-Malki said the punishment for spying would not be restricted to those who carried out act of treason but also those who supported them.

“Treason is a major crime and verdict on individuals involved in the crime would be issued by a special criminal court. The Shariah does not differentiate between men and women involved in the crime as it wants to protect the security of society,” he added.