IV 

107TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 516

Expressing the sense of Congress that United States diplomatic and consular 

missions should provide the full and complete protection of the United 

States to certain citizens of the United States living abroad. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2002

Mr. BURTON of Indiana (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, and Mr. 

OSE) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on International Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that United States diplomatic and consular missions should provide the full and 

complete protection of the United States to certain citizens of the United States living abroad.

Whereas there are numerous cases in which citizens of the 

United States are prevented from leaving Saudi Arabia 

against their will or in violation of United States law; 

Whereas Amjad Radwan and Rasheed Radwan, 2 United 

States citizens, were prevented from leaving Saudi Arabia 

by their Saudi-national father in 1985; 

Whereas Monica Stowers, the mother of Amjad Radwan and 

Rasheed Radwan and a United States citizen, traveled to 

Saudi Arabia in November 1990 and heard directly from 
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•HCON 516 IH 

her children of the physical and sexual abuse they had 

endured there; 

Whereas upon learning of the abuse, Ms. Stowers brought 

her children to the United States Embassy in Riyadh, 

displayed their United States passports, and sought the 

protection of the Embassy and assistance in returning 

home to the United States; 

Whereas personnel from the Department of State told Ms. 

Stowers and her children that the Embassy was ‘‘not a 

hotel’’ and urged them to leave; 

Whereas personnel from the Department of State informed 

Ms. Stowers’ ex-husband, without her permission and in 

total disregard for her safety, that she and her children 

were in the Embassy; 

Whereas personnel from the Department of State ordered 

United States Marines to physically eject Ms. Stowers 

and her children from the Embassy; 

Whereas following her ejection, Ms. Stowers was arrested for 

refusing to leave Saudi Arabia without her children and 

sent to a women’s prison; 

Whereas the current Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Robert W. 

Jordan, has pledged that no United States citizen will be 

similarly removed from the Embassy while he is ambassador; 

Whereas American women in Saudi Arabia have directly informed Members of Congress of the physical abuse inflicted upon them by their Saudi husbands, the lack of 

support or protection for battered women in Saudi society, and the inability to leave Saudi Arabia with their 

children unless their husbands give permission; 
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Whereas these women and personnel from the Department of 

State estimate that there are hundreds of abused American women in Saudi Arabia who do not report their 

cases due to fear and hopelessness; 

Whereas many of these abused American women do not attempt to escape for fear that failure would result in 

death or serious bodily injury to them and their children; 

Whereas abused American women in Saudi Arabia are discouraged from seeking assistance from the United States 

Embassy or consulate in escaping with their children and 

are told that nothing can be done for them; 

Whereas many of these women and their children are denied 

religious freedoms and other basic human rights while 

detained in Saudi Arabia; 

Whereas a primary purpose of United States diplomatic missions is to protect the interests of United States citizens; 

Whereas international law recognizes certain privileges and 

immunities for United States embassies, ambassadors’ 

residences, and consulates; and 

Whereas such privileges and immunities enable United States 

diplomatic personnel to provide sanctuary to United 

States citizens abroad: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that United 

3 States diplomatic and consular missions should provide 

4 the full and complete protection of the United States to 

5 citizens of the United States who—

6 (1) are living or traveling abroad; 
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1 (2) are victims of international child abduction, 

2 domestic violence, or sexual abuse; and 

3 (3) seek sanctuary in a United States diplo4 matic or consular mission.

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