A US delegation claimed on Monday that it cut short Saudi Arabia visit after one of its members was asked to remove his kippah, Jewish head covering.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reported that during their visit to Diriyah, a historic town and UNESCO world heritage site near Riyadh, the commission’s chair, Orthodox Rabbi Abraham Cooper, declined requests to remove his religious head covering.
Cooper stated, “No individual should be barred from accessing a heritage site, particularly one aimed at promoting unity and progress, simply because of their Jewish identity.”
The USCIRF expressed deep disappointment, especially given that this incident involved a representative of “an American government agency dedicated to advancing religious freedom.”
Established by the US Congress, the commission serves as an advisory body to the US government.
The Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests from AFP for comment.
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and its ally, Israel, particularly regarding the conflict in Gaza, and US-led efforts to foster normalization of relations between the two countries post-conflict.
