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S.Con.Res.131 / 108th Congress

A concurrent resolution calling on the Government of Saudi Arabia to cease supporting religious ideologies that promote hatred, intolerance, violence, and other abuses of internationally recognized human rights and urging the Government of the United States to promote religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8773-8774)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 22, 2004

Calls on the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to: (1) to stop funding religious activities that promote hatred, violence, and human rights violations; (2) stop providing diplomatic status to Islamic clerics and educators teaching outside of Saudi Arabia who are not legally entitled to such status; (3) close any Islamic affairs section of a Saudi embassy that has been responsible for propagating intolerance; (4) uphold the international commitments made by Saudi Arabia by respecting and protecting the human rights of citizens and foreigners of both sexes in Saudi Arabia; (5) ratify and comply with international human rights instruments and cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms; (6) implement promised judicial, political, economic, and educational reforms; (7) cease messages of hatred, intolerance, or incitement to violence against non-Wahhabi Muslims and non-Muslim religious groups in the educational curricula and textbooks, mosques, and media controlled by the Government of Saudi Arabia; (8) permit the establishment of independent organizations to advance human rights and to promote tolerance in Saudi Arabia; (9) safeguard the freedom of private worship for non-Muslims and for Muslims who do not follow the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam; (10) permit non-Wahhabi places of worship, such as churches, to function openly in special compounds or zones for foreigners or in unadorned buildings; and (11) permit the broadcasting of Radio Sawa throughout Saudi Arabia.

Urges the President to: (1) raise public and private concerns with the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding the ongoing violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion; (2) designate Saudi Arabia a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for the ongoing violations of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia; (3) encourage the Government of Saudi Arabia to implement judicial, political, economic, and educational reforms; (4) encourage the Government of Saudi Arabia to cease funding to propagate outside of Saudi Arabia any religious ideology that explicitly promotes hate, intolerance, and other human rights violations, including violence; (5) request that the Government of Saudi Arabia identify and provide an accounting of what kinds of support go to religious schools, mosques, centers of learning, and other religious organizations globally, including in the United States; (6) develop initiatives and programs in Saudi Arabia to advance human rights, including religious freedom, the rights of women, and the rule of law; and (7) report to Congress on U.S. efforts to raise concerns regarding human rights, including religious freedom, with the Government of Saudi Arabia, and the results of such efforts.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · D–NY

Committees

  • Foreign Relations Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8773-8774)

  2. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Con.Res.131 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.Con.Res.131 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.Con.Res.131 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.Con.Res.131 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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