In its annual report on religious freedom, the State Department has for the first time identified Saudi Arabia as a country that violates such freedom

National Review, Oct 11, 2004

* In its annual report on religious freedom, the State Department has for the first time identified Saudi Arabia as a country that violates such freedom. The seven other countries that share its new designation (all are considered "of particular concern") are Burma, China, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Eritrea, and Vietnam.

Such company alone indicates how serious the charge is. The decision to include Saudi Arabia suggests that previous State Department efforts to induce Riyadh to increase religious liberty have failed. Now the Bush administration is required by law to consider action against the kingdom, including sanctions. You might say that both the designation and the action are long overdue, and you'd probably be right. But late is better than never.