Saudi Arabia Kicks Out Canadian Ambassador For Human Rights Criticism

Saudi Arabia has issued a sharp rebuke to Canada for criticizing recent arrests of human rights and womens activists.

The Saudi foreign ministry on Sunday gave the Canadian ambassador 24 hours to leave the country and froze all new trade and investment transactions with Canada.

The retaliation followed a statement posted on the Canadian Global Affairs Twitter account on Friday saying it was gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and womens rights activists, and urging the Saudi government to release them.

The Saudi government replied with a statement calling Canadas comments a grave and unacceptable violation of the Kingdoms laws and procedures.

#Statement | The Canadian position is a grave and unacceptable violation of the Kingdom's laws and procedures. In addition to violate the Kingdom's judiciary and a breach of the principle of #sovereignty.

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#Statement | The Canadian position is a grave and unacceptable violation of the Kingdom's laws and procedures. In addition to violate the Kingdom's judiciary and a breach of the principle of #sovereignty .
Foreign Ministry (@KSAmofaEN) August 5, 2018

Womens rights activists Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah were arrested last week, according to Human Rights Watch . Both women have campaigned to lift the Saudi driving ban and encourage the participation of women in politics.

The arrests of Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah signal that the Saudi authorities see any peaceful dissent, whether past or present, as a threat to their autocratic rule, Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director for Human Rights Watch. After the recent arbitrary arrests of businesspeople, womens rights activists, and reformist clerics, Saudi Arabias allies and partners should question what reform really means in a country where the rule of law is disdainfully ignored.

Despite a campaign to modernize the country and expand freedoms to women, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has cracked down on activists since he was appointed last year.

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The government began detaining people linked to the end of the driving ban on women in May, just weeks before the ban was lifted.

The situation is bad and people are too scared to communicate with each other. Everyone is nervous and everyone is worried, an activist told the Financial Times in May. Those Im in touch with tell me they already have their suitcases ready.

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