Saudi Arabia Freezes Canada Trade Ties for Urging Activists’ Release
BBC News, Aug. 6, 2018
httpss://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45079682
Saudi Arabia has said it is freezing all new trade with Canada and expelling its ambassador over its “interference” in the kingdom’s domestic affairs.
A Saudi foreign ministry statement said it considered Canada’s call last week for the release of detained civil society and women’s rights activists a violation of Saudi sovereignty.
Those held include the Saudi-American human rights campaigner Samar Badawi, sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi.
Canada said it was seeking “clarity.”
However, foreign ministry spokeswoman Marie-Pier Baril stressed that Canada would “always stand up for the protection of human rights… including women’s rights, and freedom of expression around the world”.
- Saudi Arabia widens crackdown on women’s rights activists
- Have executions doubled in Saudi Arabia?
- Who is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed?
“Our government will never hesitate to promote these values and believes that this dialogue is critical to international diplomacy,” she added.
The leading Saudi women’s rights campaigner Manal al-Sharif thanked Canada for “speaking up” and asked when other Western powers would do the same.
But Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir tweeted that Canada’s position was based on “misleading information,” adding that anyone arrested was “subject to Saudi laws that guarantee their rights.”

Samar Badawi – a prominent human rights campaigner whose brother is serving a 10-year sentence – was arrested last week
Saudi Arabia suspends Toronto flights in row with Canada
BBC News, Aug. 6, 2018
Saudi Arabia’s state airliner has suspended its direct flights to Toronto after Canada called for the release of detained activists for civil society and women’s rights.
The Middle Eastern country has also frozen all trade and expelled Canada’s ambassador over the “interference.”
Canada has responded by saying it “will continue to advocate for human rights.”
Those held include the Saudi-American human rights campaigner Samar Badawi, sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said she was “deeply concerned” by the diplomat’s expulsion, but added: “Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including women’s rights and freedom of expression around the world.
“We will never hesitate to promote these values and we believe that this dialogue is critical to international diplomacy.”
(Read more….)