Canada takes stand against Saudi Arabia

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo / AP

Canada has refused to back down in its defence of human rights after Saudi Arabia froze new trade and investment and expelled the Canadian ambassador in retaliation for Ottawa's call to free arrested Saudi civil society activists.

Hitting back over Riyadh's response to Canada's call to have arrested activists freed, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said: "Canada will always stand up for human rights in Canada and around the world, and women's rights are human rights."

The row began on Saturday when Canada expressed concern over the arrests of activists in Saudi Arabia, including prominent women's rights campaigner Samar Badawi, and called for their release.

Riyadh called Canada's comments "a blatant interference in the Kingdom's domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols".

Analysts said Saudi Arabia's sudden sharp response to criticism shows the limits of reforms by Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who runs its day-to-day Government. He has launched a campaign of social and economic change, but has not eased the absolute monarchy's total ban on political activism.

His recent foreign policy exploits include the war in Yemen, the boycott of Qatar and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's surprise resignation broadcast during a visit to the kingdom. Hariri later rescinded the resignation, widely believed to be orchestrated by Riyadh, and returned to Beirut.

Analysts also said the dispute shows Saudi Arabia will continue flexing its muscles abroad, especially as the kingdom enjoys a closer relationship with President Donald Trump.

"This message is obviously not just being sent to Ottawa," said Giorgio Cafiero, the CEO of Gulf State Analytics, a Washington-based risk consultancy. "It's a message to countries across Europe and across the rest of the world that criticism of Saudi Arabia has consequences."

Freeland said: "We stand by what we have said. We're always going to speak up for women's rights and that's not going to change." She noted it wasn't the first time Canada has spoken out about human rights in Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have publicly backed Saudi Arabia in the dispute.

- AP