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Ambassador Expelled, Trade Frozen, Scholarships Cancelled: Saudi Response To Canada’s Charge Of Rights’ Violation
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Dan Kitwood - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Saudi Arabia has taken a very strong exception of Canada’s criticism of the former’s treatment of jailed civil-rights activists, unexpectedly expelling the Canadian ambassador from the country while also recalling its own envoy to Canada.
The statement released by the Saudi Foreign Ministry says the the phrase “immediate release” was unacceptable saying that such language cannot be tolerated in a dialogue between two sovereign nations.
Saudi authorities have also reportedly suspended scholarships for Saudi students in Canadian universities, colleges and schools and said that the students will be relocated to other places.
Canadian authorities meanwhile are trying to contact Saudi authorities to diffuse the crisis.
“We are seriously concerned by these media reports and are seeking greater clarity on the recent statement from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” a spokeswoman for the Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said.
Freeland had earlier tweeted in support of Samar Badawi, a Saudi civil rights activist.
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