Saudi Arabia expels Canada envoy, halts new trade ties

By Sibel Ugurlu

ANKARA (AA) – Saudi Arabia on Monday recalled its ambassador to Canada and gave the Canadian ambassador 24 hours to leave the country, official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The decision came after Saudi security forces detained several human rights activists, which later saw Canadian Foreign Ministry urge Riyadh to release them.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the "so-called civil society activists" had been detained on the lawful terms and the Canada's request to release the detainees was "interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols."

"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," according to the statement.

The ministry declared the Canadian envoy as "persona-non-grata".

"The Kingdom will put on hold all new business and investment transactions with Canada while retaining its right to take further action," the statement said.