Globe and Mail: Saudi Arabia Breaks Ties With Canada

Canadian officials called for the release of civil-rights and women’s rights activists being held in Saudi Arabia and expressed concern about a crackdown on dissidents. “In response, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador Sunday, recalled their ambassador and frozen new trade dealings with Canada, decrying what they called foreign interference in their domestic affairs,” reports Steven Chase for the Globle and Mail. The Saudi government also announced plans to withdraw 20,000 Saudi students as well as any family members from Canada and, if Canada continued criticism, threatened to interfere in Canadian domestic affairs. Canada is not alone, and Human Rights Watch criticizes Saudi Arabia for airstrikes and a blockade of Yemen, increased crackdowns on dissent, a harsh criminal justice system that relies on Sharia Islamic law, exploitation of migrant workers and stringent restrictions for women. The criticism may have been especially stinging for Saudi Arabia because it came from a Canadian woman, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. – YaleGlobal