U.S. Says Saudis Making Progress on Religious Tolerance

July 20, 2006

Source: UPI

http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20060720-112024-4022r

On July 20, 2006 United Press International reported, "Saudi Arabia is taking steps towards greater religious freedom by promising to revise textbooks and establish a new human rights commission. Comprehensive textbook revisions are expected to be completed in one to two years, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford said Wednesday. The revisions are aimed at eliminating references to religious intolerance and promotion of violence toward religious minorities in the region. Some of the negative rhetoric in Saudi texts has also been directed at the United States. 'We have been encouraged as we have discussed this issue with Saudi officials to find that they have understood our concerns, have agreed in many cases that the language is unacceptable, and have been working to address this,' said Hanford. He said the developments are a result of sustained discussions and visits to the Islamic nation, adding that he believes Saudi promises are sincere, though only time will tell."