In response to a recent media report the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington DC categorically rejects allegations that it helps its citizens facing criminal charges to flee the United States and evade justice.

All Embassy officials adhere strictly to U.S. laws while in the United States.

The Saudi government also advises all of its citizens to strictly observe the laws and regulations of whichever country they visit or reside in.

When a Saudi citizen is arrested in the United States, or any other country, and contacts the Saudi Embassy or a Consulate seeking legal assistance, the Embassy or Consulate will assist the citizen by posting bail and retaining counsel, as other foreign missions do when their citizens seek their assistance.

It is worth noting that hundreds of thousands of Saudis have studied in the United States over the past five decades. The overwhelming majority of Saudi students enjoy productive stays in the United States, and many have contributed positively to their local community by volunteering. Some such as Theeb Alyami and Jasir Al Rakah heroically lost their lives to save others.

Students who have encountered legal issues comprise a very small fraction of the total number of Saudis who have studied in the United States over the past fifty years. These cases represent clear aberrations and are not a reflection of the large Saudi student population in the United States, the overwhelming majority of which is law-abiding.

Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States do not issue travel documents to citizens engaged in legal proceedings. The notion that the Saudi government actively helps citizens evade justice after they have been implicated in legal wrongdoing in the United States is without foundation, as evidenced by the fact that a number of Saudi citizens are currently serving prison sentences here; others faced legal proceedings but were exonerated by the American justice system.