US religious freedom delegation faces setback during Saudi Arabia visit
During a visit to the UNESCO heritage site of Diriyah, known as the original home of the Saudi royal family, a US religious freedom delegation encountered a troubling incident. The delegation's chairman, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, was asked to remove his kippah, leading to a surprising and distressing turn of events.
An American delegation on religious freedom ended their visit to Saudi Arabia early because a member was asked to take off his Jewish head covering, known as a kippah.
The delegation, from the US Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF), was visiting the UNESCO heritage site of Diriyah, which is the original home of the Saudi royal family. While there, Saudi officials requested that the delegation's chairman, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, remove his kippah. The commission shared this information in a statement on Monday.
Staff from the US embassy, who were with the delegation, attempted to communicate Cooper's firm but polite refusal. However, despite his explanation that he did not wish to cause any conflict and was simply following his religious beliefs as an observant Jew, the site officials still escorted the delegation out.
The commission also mentioned that the Saudi government had extended an invitation for the group to visit the site, and the visit had been authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
USCIRF is a bipartisan advisory body, independent from the State Department.
CNN has reached out to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi embassy in Washington.
USCIRF Vice Chair Reverend Frederick A. Davie expressed his shock and disappointment at the Saudi officials' request for Chair Cooper to remove his kippah. This action not only went against the government's supposed commitment to change but also contradicted the positive signs of increased religious freedom that we witnessed firsthand in the Kingdom.
Davie acknowledged the meetings held with various Saudi authorities during our visit, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, and the Human Rights Commission. However, he emphasized that the incident involving the kippah highlighted the need for Saudi Arabia to do more to comply with international laws protecting the right to religious freedom.
“No one should be denied access to a heritage site, especially one intended to highlight unity and progress, simply for existing as a Jew,” Cooper said.
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