The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said its delegation was near Riyadh visiting Diriyah, a historic town and Unesco world heritage site, when the commission’s chair, the Orthodox rabbi Abraham Cooper, “refused their requests that he remove his religious head covering”.

Cooper said in a statement: “No one should be denied access to a heritage site, especially one intended to highlight unity and progress, simply for existing as a Jew.”

The USCIRF said Cooper and its vice-chair, the Rev Frederick Davie, were invited to tour the site last Tuesday as part of their official visit when, after several delays to the tour, officials requested that Cooper remove his kippah “while at the site and any time he was to be in public, even though the Saudi ministry of foreign affairs had approved the site visit”.

  • SkyezOpen@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Breaking news, Saudis are terrible people. Up next at 11: is water wet? The answer may not surprise you.

  • Cuttlefish1111@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    The Rabbi got to experience discrimination, how unfortunate. A wise individual would use this time to reflect upon his own decisions. At least they didn’t kill, starve or maim him as would happen if he were a Palestinian in Gaza

      • Cuttlefish1111@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        His decision to be involved with a genocidal regime. But you already know that, so does everyone else. I’m sure you will post some bait and argue with me. I don’t care and I will not entertain it. You’re probably not even a real person or some Israeli college kid. I don’t care

        • czech@low.faux.moe
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          4 months ago

          “I’m sure you will add context and prove me wrong so I’m leaving now”.

          • Cuttlefish1111@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            I’m done arguing with shills, propagandists and genocide apologists. They’re arguing in bad faith. For you to assume I would be “wrong” reveals your own prejudice/bias. Not everything is black and white but this issue is.

            • czech@low.faux.moe
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              4 months ago

              Just so you know- to an outsider with no skin in this argument you appear to be the one arguing in bad faith. Good luck with everything!

            • Bernie_Sandals@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              I am literally employed by a progressive Org fighting for a permanent ceasefire and a Palestinian state. You’re the only one arguing in bad faith here by immediately assuming I’m pro-genocide for asking the most innocent of questions, but go off ig.