Condoleezza Rice's Tenure As Secretary of State - Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

In May 2005, Rice indicated that many Mid East states would “have to answer their people's call for genuine reform. ” She said “nd even Saudi Arabia has held multiple elections.” In April 2007, the New York Times reported that “more than half the decisions made by the councils have not been carried out. Most of the others have been in support of the central government.”

In November 2005, the State Department issued a report critical of restrictions on religion in Saudi Arabia, noting among other things that all citizens were required to be Muslims. Rice has not sanctioned Saudi Arabia, saying she wants “additional time for a continuation of discussions leading to progress on important religious freedom issues.” Criticisms in the report include a 2002 incident in which Saudi religious police stopped students from leaving a burning building because they were not wearing mandated Islamic dress; 15 schoolgirls perished.