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The ironies and hypocrisies of both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s and the Saudi Arabian government abound in the diplomatic spat between the two countries that has garnered international attention.

Last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Global Affairs Canada each sent out tweets publicly demanding that Saudi Arabia release recently arrested activists, including Samar Badawi, the sister of Raif, a blogger who has been in jail since 2O12 for criticizing the morally bankrupt kingdom.

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Raif’s wife and three children live in Quebec and became Canadian citizens on July 1.

Freeland’s tweets — which have undoubtedly worsened the likelihood of these brave activists being released — were noticed by the Saudi royal family, which has retaliated in a big way.

On Sunday, the kingdom recalled its ambassador to Canada, expelled our own from Riyadh, suspended scholarships to 15,000 students studying in Canada, banned Canadian wheat and barley, ordered all Saudis receiving medical care in Canada to leave, put on hold all new business with Canada, and is apparently divesting from Canadian investments.