This article discusses the penalties for using forged academic degrees, highlighting laws against forgery and the importance of verifying credentials.

A reader of "Al-Khaleej" raised a question regarding the recent surge in individuals promoting university degrees for financial gain. What are the penalties for those who practice a profession using a forged degree?
In addressing this concern, legal advisor Mohammed Jawish clarified the distinction between forgery itself and the use of a forged document.

In some cases, both offenses may occur simultaneously; however, the inquiry focuses on individuals who knowingly use a counterfeit academic certificate. When discussing forgery in general, the legislator has outlined penalties in Articles 252 and 253 of the Penal Code.

 These stipulate that forgery of an official document may lead to a prison sentence of up to ten years, while forgery of a non-official document can result in imprisonment. Additionally, the legislator has instituted a penalty of up to five years of temporary imprisonment for anyone who forges an official document's image and uses it, or who knowingly uses an officially forged document.
 

Moreover, various professions can be pursued based on counterfeit academic certificates. Nonetheless, a single misstep that adversely affects clients, employers, or even endangers lives will lead to serious consequences, both for the harm caused to others and for the act of forgery itself.

Specifically, regarding counterfeit academic certifications, the legislator has addressed this issue through a federal law prohibiting the use of degrees from unlicensed institutions. It is crucial to define what constitutes an unlicensed institution. A certificate may not be forged but could have been issued by an entity masquerading as a legitimate educational institution when, in reality, it operates out of a small office under the guise of an academy, offering degrees that appeal to unsuspecting victims.
 

Jawish stressed the importance of caution for employers, advising them to rigorously verify the authenticity of any documents presented to them. He also cautioned the public against falling for advertisements or individuals offering fake degrees, as this poses a serious threat to their futures and freedoms.