109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 275
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sep-
tember 11, 2001, were carried out by 19 hijackers, in-
cluding 15 Saudi Arabian nationals; 
Whereas since September 11, 2001, multiple terrorist attacks 
have occurred inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that 
were carried out by Saudi nationals;
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Whereas Saudi nationals have joined the insurgency in Iraq, 
carrying out terrorist activities and providing financial 
support; 
Whereas the Government of Saudi Arabia controls and regu-
lates all forms of education in public and private schools 
at all levels; 
Whereas Islamic religious education is compulsory in public 
and private schools at all levels in Saudi Arabia; 
Whereas the religious curriculum is written, monitored, and 
taught by followers of the Wahhabi interpretation of 
Islam, the only religion the Government of Saudi Arabia 
allows to be taught; 
Whereas rote memorization of religious texts continues to be 
a central feature of much of the educational system of 
Saudi Arabia, leaving thousands of students unprepared 
to function in the global economy of the 21st century; 
Whereas the Government of Saudi Arabia has tolerated ele-
ments within its education system that promote and en-
courage extremism; 
Whereas some textbooks in Saudi Arabian schools foster in-
tolerance, ignorance, and anti-Semitic, anti-American, 
and anti-Western views; 
Whereas these intolerant views instilled in students make 
them prime recruiting targets of terrorists and other ex-
tremist groups; 
Whereas extremism endangers the stability of the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region, and threat-
ens global security; 
Whereas the events of September 11, 2001, and the global 
rash of terrorist attacks since then, have created an ur-
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gent need to promote moderate voices in the Islamic 
world as an effective way to combat extremism and ter-
rorism; 
Whereas the report of the National Commission on Terrorist 
Attacks Upon the United States stated that ‘‘Education 
that teaches tolerance, the dignity and value of each indi-
vidual, and respect for different beliefs is a key element 
in any global strategy to eliminate Islamist terrorism’’; 
and 
Whereas the ascension of King Abdullah to the throne in Au-
gust 2005 presents a new opportunity for education re-
form in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Now, therefore, be 
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) urges the Government of Saudi Arabia to 
reform its textbooks and education curriculum in a 
manner that promotes tolerance and peaceful coex-
istence with others, develops civil society, and en-
courages functionality in the global economy; 
(2) urges the President to direct the Secretary 
of State to use existing public diplomacy channels, 
international visitor exchanges, professional develop-
ment, and educational reform programs, including 
those under the Middle East Partnership Initiative 
and the Broader Middle East Initiative, to focus on 
the issue of educational reform in Saudi Arabia in
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accordance with the objectives enumerated in para-
graph (1); 
(3) expresses extreme disappointment with the 
slow pace of education reform in the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia; 
(4) urges the President to take into account 
progress in meeting the goals outlined in paragraph 
(1) when determining the level and frequency of 
United States bilateral relations with the Govern-
ment of Saudi Arabia; and 
(5) requests that the Secretary of State exam-
ine the educational system in Saudi Arabia, monitor 
the progress of the efforts to reform the education 
curriculum, and report on such progress, in classi-
fied form if necessary, to the appropriate congres-
sional committees.
Passed the House of Representatives December 19 
(legislative day, December 18), 2005. 
Attest:
Clerk.
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 275
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the 
education curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia.