Riyadh –
Authority Arab Saudi involved new tensions with United States of America (US) in an incident involving kippah — Jewish men’s head covering. A rabbi who leads the US delegation on religious freedom was asked to remove the kippah he wore while attending a meeting in the city of Diriyah last week.
As a result of the incident that occurred on March 5, the US delegation finally cut short its visit to Saudi Arabia.
As reported AFPWednesday (13/3/2024), Saudi authorities in their explanation on Tuesday (12/3) local time said “misunderstanding” was the root of the controversial incident.
The Saudi explanation came after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) revealed on Monday (11/3) that its delegation was visiting Diriyah — a historic city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, when their commission chairman, Orthodox Rabbi Abraham Copper, “rejected the request that he remove his religious head covering.”
“No one should be denied access to a heritage site, especially one intended to highlight unity and progress, simply because of being Jewish,” Cooper said in a statement.
After delays, Cooper was denied entry to the city even though his visit with the deputy chairman of the USCIRF commission, the Rev. Frederick Davie, had received official approval by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The US delegation then decided to shorten its visit to Saudi.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington, in its statement, sought to provide “clarification” regarding the incident that was revealed to the public.
“This very unfortunate incident was the result of a misunderstanding of internal protocols,” the Saudi Embassy said in its explanation.
See the Saudi explanation regarding this incident on the next page.
Also watch ‘On the First Fasting Day of Ramadan 1445 H in Makkah, the Weather Was Hot and Hot’:
(nvc/ita)
2024-03-13 03:34:17
#Saudi #ArabiaUS #Argued #Kippah #Happened
