Counterterrorism Blog

On May 20, I wrote about the approval by the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, near Washington, DC, to continue leasing county property to the Islamic Saudi Academy, which is funded by the Saudi government. The school had been criticized for using textbooks which included virulently anti-Semitic and anti-Christian language and teachings. The supervisors approved the lease but refused to release a report, funded by the taxpaying citizens of the county, which translated the newest version of the textbooks.

Today, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has issued a press release stating that "the Commission managed to acquire and review 17 ISA textbooks in use during this school year from other, independent sources, including a congressional office. While the texts represent just a small fraction of the books used in this Saudi government school, the Commission’s review confirmed that these texts do, in fact, include some extremely troubling passages that do not conform to international human rights norms. The Commission calls once again for the full public release of all the Arabic-language textbooks used at the ISA."

The USCIRF cites examples of the problematic language: “In a twelfth-grade Tafsir (Koranic interpretation) textbook, the authors state that it is permissible for a Muslim to kill an apostate (a convert from Islam), an adulterer, or someone who has murdered a believer intentionally: “He (praised is He) prohibits killing the soul that God has forbidden (to kill) unless for just cause…” Just cause is then defined in the text as “unbelief after belief, adultery, and killing an inviolable believer intentionally."

Interestingly, the textbooks examined include a working definition of jihad - one which DHS and the NCTC would not allow American officials to use: "In these verses is a call for jihad, which is the pinnacle of Islam. In (jihad) is life for the body; thus it is one of the most important causes of outward life. Only through force and victory over the enemies is there security and repose. Within martyrdom in the path of God (exalted and glorified is He) is a type of noble life-force that is not diminished by fear or poverty.” (Emphasis mine.)

Now we know why the county board took the $2.2 million lease payment from the Kingdom and refused to release the report - because the report would have shown that the Saudis continue to thumb their noses at concern over their textbooks.

It's time for Congress to demand the secret report, subpoena the textbooks from the school, release all of it in a public hearing, and hold the Saudi government responsible.