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HCONRES 244 108th Congress House

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Government of Saudi Arabia's lack of protection of internationally recognized human rights and the absence of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Introduced: July 15, 2003 See on congress.gov
International Affairs AliensChurchesCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCongress
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Congressional reporting requirementsDemocracyDue process of lawEconomics and Public FinanceEducationElementary and secondary educationGovernment Operations and PoliticsHuman rightsInternational broadcastingIslamic fundamentalismJudicial reformLawMiddle East and North AfricaMuslimsRadio broadcastingReligionReligious libertyRule of lawSaudi ArabiaScience, Technology, CommunicationsTreatiesUnited NationsWomenWomen's rights
This resolution expired with the 108th Congress
It was not agreed to before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, so it is no longer active. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
Jul 15, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Jul 15, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 15, 2003

Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Calls on the Government Saudi Arabia to: (1) uphold its international commitments by respecting and protecting the human rights of citizens and foreigners of both sexes in Saudi Arabia; (2) ratify and comply fully with international human rights instruments and cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms, and to sign, ratify, and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (3) implement immediately promised judicial, political, economic, and educational reforms; (4) permit the establishment of independent nongovernmental organizations to advance human rights and promote tolerance, and to take action to create an independent human rights commission for the same purposes; (5) safeguard the freedom of non-Muslims, and of those Muslims who do not follow the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, to worship in private; (6) permit non-Wahhabi places of worship, such as churches, to function openly in special compounds or zones for foreigners or in unadorned buildings designated for this purpose; and (7) permit the broadcasting of Radio Sawa throughout the country.

Urges the U.S. Government to: (1) to raise concerns at the highest levels, in both public and private fora, with the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding its ongoing and repeated human rights violations; (2) designate Saudi Arabia a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for its systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom; (3) encourage the Government of Saudi Arabia to implement expeditiously its publicly stated plans for judicial, political, economic, and educational reform; (4) develop and expand specific initiatives and programs in Saudi Arabia to advance human rights, including religious freedom, the rights of women, and the rule of law; and (4) report publicly to Congress on its efforts to raise concerns regarding human rights, including religious freedom, with the Government of Saudi Arabia, including the results of those efforts.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Con. Res. 244: Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Government of Saudi Arabia's lack of protection of internationally recognized human rights and the absence of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HCONRES-244/
MLA
"H. Con. Res. 244: Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Government of Saudi Arabia's lack of protection of internationally recognized human rights and the absence of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HCONRES-244/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Con. Res. 244, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HCONRES-244/.
Markdown link
[H. Con. Res. 244: Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Government of Saudi Arabia's lack of protection of internationally recognized human rights and the absence of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HCONRES-244/)
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