BREAKING: Saudi Arabia HALTS medical treatment of Saudi citizens in Canada as row deepens

The Saudi government is coordinating the transfer of Saudi citizens in Canadian hospitals to ones outside the country.

The news agency cited Saudi Health Attaché in the US and Canada, Dr Fahd bin Ibrahim Al Tamimi.

This comes after Saudi Arabia recalled its Ambassador to Canada, and expelled the Canadian Ambassador in Riyadh following a row over human rights.

Canada’s Foreign Office issued a statement of concern over the detainment of civil society and women’s rights activists.

The statement, published by Canada’s Foreign Office, stated: “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.”

Canada’s Foreign Office was responding to reports from Amnesty International that leading women’s rights activist Samar Badawi, sister of imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi, was detained by Saudi police last week.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland commented on Ms Badawi’s arrest, stating: “Very alarmed to learn that Samar Badawi, Raif Badawi’s sister, has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.

“Canada stands together with the Badawi family in this difficult time, and we continue to strongly call for the release of both Raif and Samar Badawi.”

The Canadian Ambassador Dennis Horak was subsequently declared persona non grata, and issued 24 hours to leave the country.

The Middle Eastern nation also subsequently froze all new trade and investment with Canada.

The Saudi government responded sharply to Ms Freeland’s statements, saying: “The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed disbelief by this negative unfounded comment, which as not based in any accurate or true information.

“The persons referred to were lawfully detained by the Public Prosecution for committing crimes punishable by applicable law, which also guaranteed the detainees’ rights and provided them with due process during the investigation and trial.

“The Canadian statement is a blatant interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols.

“It is a major, unacceptable affront to the Kingdom’s laws and judicial process, as well as a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty.”

“The Kingdom views the Canadian position as an affront to the Kingdom that requires a sharp response to prevent any party from attempting to meddle with Saudi sovereignty.

“It is quite unfortunate to see the phrase ‘immediate release’ in the Canadian statement, which is a reprehensible and unacceptable use of language between sovereign states.”

In a direct threat to Canada, they concluded: “Any further step from the Canadian side in that direction will be considered as acknowledgement of our right to interfere in the Canadian domestic affairs.”

More to follow…