US commission cuts short visit to Saudia Arabia after rabbi told to remove head covering

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has cut short its visit to Saudi Arabia after its chairman, the Orthodox rabbi Abraham Cooper, refused their requests that he remove his religious head covering.

The rabbi and vice-chairman, the Rev Frederick Davie, were touring a heritage site during an official visit when he was asked to remove his kippah, head covering, while at the site and in public.

The Commission said it was particularly regrettable it happened to the representative of “an American government agency that promotes religious freedom”.