Saudi Arabia has expelled the Canadian Ambassador following a row over human rights issues

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

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. The Canadian Ambassador Dennis Horak was subsequently declared persona non grata, and issued 24 hours to leave the country. The Middle Eastern nation has also frozen all new trade and investment with Canada, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In an official statement, the Saudi government said: "We have put on hold all new business and investment transactions with Canada while retaining its right to take further action.” 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 Saudi government responded sharply to Ms Freeland's statements, saying: "The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed disbelief by this negative unfounded comment. "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.

Samar Badawi received the 2012 International Women of Courage Award from Hillary Clinton in the US

Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia, including Samar Badawi Canada's Foreign Office

“It is 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. “It is blatant interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols. “Any further step from the Canadian side in that direction will be considered as acknowledgment of our right to interfere in the Canadian domestic affairs.”

Chrystia Freeland declared that 'Canada stands together with the Badawi family'

Ms Badawi's brother was arrested in 2012 for criticism of the regime, and was subjected to 50 lashings in 2015. His wife, Ensaf Haidar, and three children were granted Canadian citizenship earlier this summer, and live in Quebec's Eastern Townships. Amnesty International noted Ms Badawi has been repeatedly targeted and interrogated by Saudi security forces for her human rights activist. She was also subjected to a travel ban in 2014 and arrested in 2016.



Campaigners demonstrated in support of Raif Badawi in Paris in 2015

Nassima al-Sada, a campaigner for civil and political rights, women’s rights, and the rights of the Shi’a minority in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, has also been arrested. She has campaigned for the rights for women to drive, and the end of the archaic male guardianship system. She stood in municipal elections in 2015, but was later banned from participating. Amnesty International said both Ms Badawi and Ms al-Sada “are once again being persecuted for their previous human rights work, and, if so, they should be immediately and unconditionally released”. Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East research director, raised her concerns surrounding the ongoing human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. She said: “This unprecedented level of persecution of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia is a disturbing sign that the crackdown is far from over.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince’s official visit to Britain in pictures Wed, March 7, 2018 Mohammed bin Salman is on a three day visit to the UK. Play slideshow PA 1 of 14 Mohammed bin Salman visit to UK