Saudi Arabia Suspends Ties With Canada Over Activist Arrest Issue, Asks Canadian Ambassador to Leave Within 24 Hours
Saudi Arabia has ended all ties including trade with Canada after a major fallout over the arrest of a women's rights activist.
Riyadh, August 6: Saudi Arabia has ended all ties including trade with Canada after a major fallout over the arrest of a women's rights activist. On Sunday, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia blasted out at Canada and expelled Canadian Ambassador Dennis Horak, asking him to leave within 24 hours. Saudi Arabia also recalled its envoy from Ottawa.
The showdown between Saudi and Canada came after Global Affairs Canada tweeted, "Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful human rights activists."
Samar Badawi is a Canadian citizen whose brother Raif Badawi, a blogger critical of the Saudi government, was in jail.
Canada's statement on Twitter
The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman flayed Canada, saying, "Throughout its long history, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has never accepted any interference in its domestic affairs by, or orders from any country."
Statement by Saudi Arabia on Twitter
"Using the phrase (immediately release) in the Canadian statement is very unfortunate, reprehensible, and unacceptable in relations between States. Any other attempt to interfere with our internal affairs from Canada, means that we are allowed to interfere in Canada's internal affairs," the foreign ministry of KSA tweeted.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2018 01:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).