Letter to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell

January 29, 2004

The Honorable Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State
The State Department
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Powell,

I was pleased to learn of your decision to revoke the diplomatic visas of Saudi officials intent on spreading religious extremism in the United States but remain concerned that Saudi institutions here that are affiliated with these officials continue to spread an intolerant message. Accordingly, I urge you to pressure the Saudis to shut down the Islamic Affairs sections at their American diplomatic posts and to cease funding the Institute for Islamic and Arabic Sciences (IIAS), which allegedly teaches radical Islam.

As you are aware, individuals supposedly employed by the Saudi Embassy's Islamic Affairs section have been reportedly using diplomatic visas to remain in this country so that they may spread a religiously extreme message at the IIAS. Apparently, this practice is not uncommon, with investigations reportedly underway in Germany and Britain of similar abuses. You deserve credit for swiftly stopping this offense by revoking the visas of 16 people participating in this deception.

Despite the strong message sent by your actions, the Saudis continue to sponsor and promote the spread of religious extremism in the U.S. The IIAS serves as a satellite campus of al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, so it is funded directly by the Saudi government. The Islamic Affairs sections of their diplomatic posts also allegedly supply textbooks to Muslim schools in the U.S. that promote an intolerant Wahhabi line.

While a Saudi embassy official made comments last month suggesting that the Saudi government would close its Islamic Affairs sections around the world, the section at the Washington embassy allegedly continues to operate. In addition, senior officials in the Saudi government, including the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, have directly contradicted the plans to close these centers in the Arab press, saying they centers are part of the Kingdom's global religious message.

As you know, there is a clear connection between the commission of violence and the spread of intolerance. Your efforts to end the Saudi abuse of diplomatic credentials used to protect people spreading this message in the U.S. is a good first step in stopping these practices. To finish the job, I urge you to pressure the Saudis to cease funding the IIAS and, at the very least, immediately close the Islamic Affairs sections of their American diplomatic posts.

Sincerely,

Charles Schumer
U.S. Senator