Saudis Deny Anti-jewish Visa Policy
Saudi Arabia has disowned a statement by its tourism organisation that Jews are not allowed to enter the country. The kingdom recently launched its first drive to attract non-Muslim tourists but an announcement on the tourism commission's website, first reported in the Guardian last week,...
Saudi Arabia has disowned a statement by its tourism organisation that Jews are not allowed to enter the country.
The kingdom recently launched its first drive to attract non-Muslim tourists but an announcement on the tourism commission's website, first reported in the Guardian last week, said "Jewish people" would not get visas. People with Israeli stamps in their passport, "those who don't abide by the Saudi traditions concerning appearance and behaviour", and "those under the influence of alcohol" would also be refused entry, it said.
After complaints in the US, the Saudi embassy in Washington said it was not the policy of the kingdom to deny visas on the basis of religion. In common with most other Arab states, Saudi Arabia does not grant visas to Israeli passport-holders because it has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
The kingdom recently launched its first drive to attract non-Muslim tourists but an announcement on the tourism commission's website, first reported in the Guardian last week, said "Jewish people" would not get visas. People with Israeli stamps in their passport, "those who don't abide by the Saudi traditions concerning appearance and behaviour", and "those under the influence of alcohol" would also be refused entry, it said.
After complaints in the US, the Saudi embassy in Washington said it was not the policy of the kingdom to deny visas on the basis of religion. In common with most other Arab states, Saudi Arabia does not grant visas to Israeli passport-holders because it has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
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