RIYADH, 1 May — A new bill regulating the rights of defendants and suspects before courts and the police comes into effect in Saudi Arabia today.

The 225-article bill, known as the criminal procedural law, is part of a plan to restructure court procedures in the Kingdom, following the government’s decision to allow lawyers to present arguments in criminal courts.

The bill was approved by the advisory Shoura Council and the government last year and published in the official gazette six months ago.

"As the bill was published in the official gazette six months ago, its application starts as of today," deputy general prosecutor Sheikh Salman Al-Faleh told Al-Jazirah newspaper.

The bill includes comprehensive instructions to be followed by justice and law enforcement authorities in all stages of arrest, interrogation, trial, and execution of verdicts.

Lawyers in the Kingdom, which applies Islamic law, were previously allowed to appear in court normally only for civil or commercial cases.

The new bill gives suspects and defendants in criminal and other cases the right to hire lawyers during all stages of detention, investigation and trial.

Under the bill, trials will be open to the public unless the judge decides otherwise for exceptional cases. Procedures for pressing charges, and hearing testimony from defendants and witnesses are also laid out.

The bill forbids any physical or moral harm or torture to extract confessions from detainees, who must be referred to an interrogator within 24 hours of arrest.

An interrogator can extend the detention period for a maximum of five days if there are strong criminal suspicions.

Detention, however, can be extended for a maximum of six months but with the prior approval of the general prosecutor, the bill stipulates.

Final verdicts are issued by a two-tier court system, but major verdicts like death and amputation must be approved by the Supreme Judicial Council.

In certain cases, convicts can appeal final judgments and if successful, they can file for material damages.

Court verdicts are negated if they contravene Islamic principles and existing laws. The government has also passed another 45-article bill to regulate the legal profession.