RIYADH, 20 November — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd has issued an order that Saudi students returning from the United States and other countries after discontinuing their education in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks be given preference at Saudi universities so they can resume their studies.
“The students should be accommodated at Saudi universities and given preference in the admissions procedures to help them continue their education,” the king said in his directive.
Many Saudis who were studying abroad at the time of the terror attacks decided not to continue their education.
Interior Minister Prince Naif thanked the king for the gesture of support for Saudi students. However, he added that there would not be any change in the status of Saudi students who want to continue their education at foreign universities.
In a previous statement, Prince Naif stated that the Saudi government would not tolerate harassment of and attacks against Saudis in the United States following the Sept. 11 incident.
He said the Kingdom would ask its citizens to leave the US if they were continuously harassed.
“The Kingdom is working to put an end to this harassment, and we hope it will end. But if it continues, we will certainly ask our citizens to come home,” he added.
More than 100 Saudis, including students, were questioned over the terror attacks.
