US Commission on International Religious Freedom Chairman Says ‘No One Should Be Denied Access to Heritage Sites’ (Document)
Washington:
The U.S. religious freedom mission said Monday it cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia after a member was asked to remove a Jewish headscarf.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said its delegation was visiting the historic UNESCO World Heritage town of Diriyah near Riyadh when its chairman, Orthodox Rabbi Abraham Cooper, “rejected them A request for him to be relieved of his religious beliefs.” Religious headscarf. “
“No one should be denied access to heritage sites, especially those designed to emphasize unity and progress, simply because they are Jewish,” Cooper said in a statement.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said Cooper and his vice chairman, the Rev. Frederick David, were invited to visit the site last Tuesday as part of an official visit, and after multiple postponements, officials asked Cooper to ” While on site and at all times” remove his kippah. Although the Saudi Foreign Ministry has approved the on-site inspection, it cannot be made public. “
Vice Chairman @FredDavieUSCIRF: “We support our chairman and look forward to further discussions with our Saudi counterparts on protecting freedom of religion or belief for all.” https://t.co/E6sJlr4Uah
— USCIRF (@USCIRF) March 11, 2024
Cooper noted that Saudi Arabia is “encouraging change in line with its Vision 2030.” “However, especially at a time when anti-Semitism is rampant, being asked to remove my kippah made it impossible for us to continue our visit.”
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said it was particularly sorry for what happened to representatives of “U.S. government agencies that promote religious freedom.”
The Commission is a U.S. government advisory body authorized by the U.S. Congress.
David, vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, called the incident “shocking and distressing,” adding: “Not only does it directly contradict the government’s official narrative of change, but it also contradicts what we have personally observed about the larger religious community in the Kingdom. Contradictory to the true signs of freedom.”
The Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of tensions between Saudi Arabia and U.S. ally Israel over the Gaza war and U.S. efforts to normalize relations between the two countries after the conflict.
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