U.S. blasts Saudis on religious freedom - 2004-09-15

U.S. blasts Saudis on religious freedom September 15, 2004, Krishnadev Calamur, UPI

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia finds itself for the first time on a U.S. list of countries of particular concern "for particularly severe violations of religious freedom," paving the way for possible U.S. sanctions.

"In September 2004, the secretary of state designated Saudi Arabia as a 'country of particular concern' under the International Religious Freedom Act for particularly severe violations of religious freedom," said the State Department's "Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2004."

The report said freedom of religion was not recognized or protected under Saudi law, and basic religious freedoms were denied to all but those who practiced the Wahhabi branch of Sunni Islam.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | first = Krishnadev | last = Calamur | title = U.S. blasts Saudis on religious freedom | url = https://www.upi.com/US-blasts-Saudis-on-religious-freedom/98561095275128/ | work = UPI | date = September 15, 2004 | accessdate = January 29, 2019 }}