The State Department designated Saudi Arabia as a “country of particular concern for religious freedom.” This is a country where:

No religion other than Islam may be practiced publicly, and all citizens must be Muslims. Churches and synagogues are illegal, though substantial numbers of foreign Christians live and work in the country. Muslims who convert to other religions can be put to death. Shiite Muslims are discriminated against; their clerics are detained and their testimony can be excluded in court proceedings.

However, in the past, our State Department has given Saudi Arabia a pass because of its strategic importance in the region. I doubt change in foreign poslicy will result from this designation, but at least it’s a start.