III 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 275 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 19, 2005 
Received 
JANUARY 27, 2006 
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the education 
curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
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;
HCON 275 RFS 
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-
HCON 275 RFS 
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
HCON 275 RFS 
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: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk.