JEDDAH, 19 June 2003 — An American woman married to a Saudi citizen who sought refuge from her reportedly abusive husband at the US consulate has returned home after American officials refused asylum for her children, who are of Saudi nationality.

Deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said another American woman seeking to leave the country remained at the consulate under US protection.

US embassies and consulates are not able to grant refuge to avoid enforcement of a host country’s laws, but they “may provide temporary protection within their facilities to American citizens who are in danger of serious harm until appropriate arrangements for their safety are in place,” Reeker said in a statement to the press.

Speaking about the woman and her children, Reeker said, “Certainly in looking at the situation, that was the determination that was made, that they could stay at the consulate in terms of providing temporary protection within that facility...

“She departed today of her own accord. We’re going to continue to monitor their well-being and provide all possible assistance to her.”

Reeker said he could not release the names of either of the women because of privacy laws.

The US Consular information sheet for Saudi Arabia says Saudi law governing family disputes dictates that women and children residing in Saudi Arabia as members of a Saudi household require the permission of the Saudi male head of the household to leave the country. This includes adult American women married to Saudi men and unmarried adult daughters of Saudi men.

“The US Embassy can intercede with the Saudi government to request exit permission for an adult American woman (wife or daughter of a Saudi citizen), but may not be able to obtain permission for the departure of minor children without the father’s agreement,” the consular sheet said.

Reeker and other State Department officials said the department was engaged in efforts to resolve a number of child custody and freedom of travel disputes in Saudi Arabia.

“What we’re doing is focusing on trying to resolve the issues, trying to resolve what we call freedom of travel disputes that involve US citizens in Saudi Arabia,” Reeker said. “And we are going to keep up that effort.”

Assistant Secretary Maori Hardy traveled to Saudi Arabia in April to discuss, among other issues, the ability of American women to travel freely outside the country.

An official source at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said contacts were under way with the American side over the circumstances surrounding the affairs. The source said the Kingdom would take all necessary measures to protect the rights of its citizens.