| The Bush administration has acknowledged that it was examining the prospect of imposing sanctions on Saudi Arabia. Officials said the State Department was considering sanctions on Saudi Arabia for its poor record on religious freedom. Saudi Arabia has been termed a "country of particular concern" for its refusal to tolerate the practice of any other religion but Islam. "Saudi Arabia this year was cited as a Country of Particular Concern because of its lack of religious freedom, where everybody who isn't tied to the particular sect of Islam that is dominant in the country is persecuted for their religious beliefs," Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Michael Kozak said. "So Saudi Arabia has a poor record and we say so in here, and [the United States] is also by the way looking at some form of sanction due to their religious repressions." Kozak did not elaborate. But other officials said sanctions that relate to a major violator of religious rights could result in restrictions on arms sales. |