Saudi Arabia barred all citizens from receiving medical treatment in Canada as a diplomatic dispute over criticism of its human rights record intensifies.

Riyadh also announced it is coordinating the transfer of all Saudi patients from Canadian hospitals to other medical facilities outside Canada, the Saudi press agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

The Gulf state stopped sending patients to Canadian hospitals "according to directives by the leadership," it said. It was unclear how many Saudi patients would be affected by the decision.

Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador, recalled its own envoy, and cut trade ties with Canada after it publicly denounced a crackdown on rights activists in the Gulf kingdom on Twitter.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said his country would not seek any mediation in its dispute with Canada.

"There is nothing to mediate ... Canada made a big mistake, and a mistake should be corrected," al-Jubeir said, adding that Riyadh was "considering additional measures" against Ottowa without further elaborating.

The sharp diplomatic dispute between the two countries has left the United States - partner and ally of both - in a bind.

"Both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together. We can't do it for them," Heather Nauert, State Department spokeswoman, said.

Washington "raised" the case with Riyadh, she said, adding: "The United States has respect for internationally recognised freedoms and also individual liberties. That certainly has not changed."

Saudi Arabia is pulling all of its patients from Canadian hospitals.



This is #NotTheOnion.



If you're a Saudi patient in a Canadian hospital, you must leave, b/c @KSAmofaEN is throwing a tantrum about wanting to keep its human rights activists in prison: https://t.co/DxeI9rfDWe — Ali A. Rizvi (@aliamjadrizvi) August 8, 2018

Saudi Arabia was angered after Canada demanded it "immediately release" some of the arrested activists, including Samar Badawi.

She is the sister of Raif Badawi, a prominent human rights campaigner who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2014 on charges of insulting Islam. His wife and children are naturalised Canadian citizens.

"Canada will always stand up for human rights in Canada and around the world, and women's rights are human rights," said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday.

Saudi Arabia also ordered some 15,000 of its students in Canada to leave the country. It also announced it suspended state-run airline flights to Toronto.

Nauert suggested the Canadian government could have handled the issue better.

"Some of these issues we choose to discuss privately with our friends, with our partners, with our allies," Nauert said. "I can tell you, however, we have raised these issues and I'll leave it at that."

'Escalating conflict'

Al Jazeera's Kirsten Saloomey, reporting from Toronto, said that while Trudeau is expected to speak later in the day to address the situation, the Saudis' latest declarations showed no intention of resolving the dispute.

"The comments coming from the [Saudi] foreign minister showed the Saudis have no intent in backing out on this," Saloomey said.

"They're escalating the conflict and, if anything, saying Canada made a mistake and needs to fix it. They seem to be addressing reports that the Canadians are reaching out to the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom to help mediate in this dispute."

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When asked about the jailed activists, Jubeir reiterated the government's earlier stance that they had been in contact with foreign entities, but did not specify the charges against them.

"The matter is not about human rights, it is a matter of national security," Jubeir said, referring to the row with Canada.

"Saudi Arabia does not interfere in the affairs of Canada in any way. Therefore, Canada must correct its actions towards the kingdom."

Canada has indicated it will not back down, despite the risk of imperilling business deals including a $15bn agreement to sell Riyadh light armoured vehicles. If the deal is scrapped, thousands of jobs could be lost in Canada, experts say.

Saloomey noted that the Canadians are proving to be defiant, standing up for their comments in defense of human rights.</s>Saudia said it would be temporarily stopping inbound and outbound flights to Toronto Pearson International Airport - the only Canadian destination it serves - from August 13. The announcement has prompted concerns among an influx of travellers planning to visit Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which begins on August 19. Last year, nearly 2.5 million worshippers descended onto the Islamic holy site, with a similar number expected this year. Saudi Arabia has been informing customers that it has temporarily scrapped penalties and fees on all upcoming direct flights to and from Toronto, adding it is working to find alternative solutions to the problems.

The latest retaliatory move came after Canada’s ministry of foreign affairs raised concerns about the arrest of women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia, including Samar Badawi (pictured main), sister of imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi. 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 Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian Ambassador Dennis Horak, who was given 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.

The Saudi government said in a statement: "We have put on hold all new business and investment transactions with Canada while retaining its right to take further action." The Saudi Foreign Ministry added: "The Kingdom views the Canadian position as an affront to the Kingdom that requires a sharp response to prevent any party from attempting to meddle with Saudi sovereignty.” In her first public response to the escalating situation with Saudi Arabia, Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the North American country was "seriously concerned" about the Kingdom’s actions, and is "seeking greater clarity". She added: “Let me be very clear: Canada will always stand up for human rights in Canada and around the world, and women's rights are human rights."</s>OTTAWA — A federal official says Canada remains unclear about the measures Saudi Arabia is taking in response to Canadian criticism of its human rights policies.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke with her Saudi counterpart Tuesday in part to get clarity about the measures, including one report that said Saudi banks and pension funds had been ordered to sell off their Canadian assets, the official said Thursday.

Saudi Arabia has not confirmed that report, and the official — who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter — said a full understanding of their plans remains elusive.

"We're working to fully understand the measures they might take," the official said. "It's still a little bit unclear."

Freeland made clear to Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that Canada's foreign policy is to express its position publicly, not just behind closed doors. At the moment no further call is planned, the official said, but the communication lines remain open and another direct call between the two remains a possibility.

"The door is not closed."

Freeland has also discussed the situation with counterparts in Sweden and Germany, but hasn't yet connected with anyone in the U.S. or the U.K., which have so far not expressed public support for Canada's position. The official said calls with officials in the United States or the United Kingdom are still possible.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic ties with Canada, expelled the Canadian ambassador and halted future trading with Canada a few days after Freeland and then her department issued tweets criticizing the arrest of social activists and asking for their immediate release.

Freeland was criticized by many for using Twitter to push Canada's foreign policy positions, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the choice Wednesday and said Canada wouldn't stop using all the communications tools available to it to make its case.

The Saudi government has cancelled scholarships to its citizens to study in Canada. Global Affairs Canada statistics show in 2016 there were about 15,000 Saudi Arabian students studying in either short-term or long-term Canadian academic programs, representing about three per cent of all foreign students in Canada.</s>OTTAWA – A federal official says Canada remains unclear about the measures Saudi Arabia is taking in response to Canadian criticism of its human rights policies.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke with her Saudi counterpart Tuesday in part to get clarity about the measures, including one report that said Saudi banks and pension funds had been ordered to sell off their Canadian assets, the official said Thursday.

Saudi Arabia has not confirmed that report, and the official — who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter — said a full understanding of their plans remains elusive.

“We’re working to fully understand the measures they might take,” the official said. “It’s still a little bit unclear.”

Freeland made clear to Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that Canada’s foreign policy is to express its position publicly, not just behind closed doors. At the moment no further call is planned, the official said, but the communication lines remain open and another direct call between the two remains a possibility.

Freeland has also discussed the situation with counterparts in Sweden and Germany, but hasn’t yet connected with anyone in the U.S. or the U.K., which have so far not expressed public support for Canada’s position. The official said calls with officials in the United States or the United Kingdom are still possible.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic ties with Canada, expelled the Canadian ambassador and halted future trading with Canada a few days after Freeland and then her department issued tweets criticizing the arrest of social activists and asking for their immediate release.

Freeland was criticized by many for using Twitter to push Canada’s foreign policy positions, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the choice Wednesday and said Canada wouldn’t stop using all the communications tools available to it to make its case.

The Saudi government has cancelled scholarships to its citizens to study in Canada. Global Affairs Canada statistics show in 2016 there were about 15,000 Saudi Arabian students studying in either short-term or long-term Canadian academic programs, representing about three per cent of all foreign students in Canada.

International students spend more than $15 billion in Canada each year, and support nearly 170,000 jobs.

The Saudi government is also ending direct flights between Canada and Saudi Arabia next week, and is reportedly arranging to have Saudi patients transferred out of Canadian hospitals.

Analysts believe Saudi Arabia holds somewhere between $10 billion and $25 billion in Canadian currency. Michael Currie, an adviser at TD Wealth, said there were some early jitters amid a report of a possible Canadian asset selloff, but that the markets didn’t take long to overcome it.</s>Saudi Arabia has stopped all medical treatment programs in Canada and is coordinating for the transfer of all Saudi patients from Canadian hospitals to other hospitals outside Canada, Saudi press agency said early on Wednesday.

The agency cited Saudi Health Attaché in the United States of America and Canada Dr. Fahd bin Ibrahim Al Tamimi.

Coverage of the Saudi-Canadian row on Globalnews.ca:

Saudi Arabia froze new trade and investment with Canada and expelled the Canadian ambassador, early on Monday, in a stern gesture of retaliation after Ottawa urged it to free arrested civil society activists.

READ MORE: U.S. refuses to get in the middle of Canada-Saudi dispute as Canada looks for allies</s>Saudi Arabia has stopped all medical treatment programs in Canada and is coordinating for the transfer of all Saudi patients from Canadian hospitals to other hospitals outside Canada, Saudi press agency said early on Wednesday.

The agency cited Saudi Health AttachÃ in the United States of America and Canada Dr. Fahd bin Ibrahim Al Tamimi.

Saudi Arabia froze new trade and investment with Canada and expelled the Canadian ambassador, early on Monday, in a stern gesture of retaliation after Ottawa urged it to free arrested civil society activists.</s>RIYADH:Saudi Arabia has halted all medical treatment programs in Canada and is coordinating for the transfer of Saudi patients to medical facilities outside the country, Saudi press agency reported on Wednesday.

The agency cited Dr. Fahd bin Ibrahim Al Tamimi, Saudi Health Attache in the United States and Canada.

The move came amid an intensifying spat over human rights between the two countries, after Saudi Arabia expelled on Monday Canada’s ambassador in Riyadh, recalled its own ambassador from Ottawa and froze “all new business” with Canada.

The Middle East country had also decided to suspend all training and scholarship programs in Canada by the end of the Islamic calendar year in September, the Cultural Bureau of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education announced on Monday.

The abrupt diplomatic row broke out as Ottawa urged Riyadh to release civil society and women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement issued by Canada’s Foreign Office.</s>RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it had stopped all medical treatment programs in Canada and was working on the transfer of all Saudi patients from hospitals there, in an escalating row after Ottawa urged it to free rights activists.

Saudi Arabia froze new trade and investment with Canada and expelled the Canadian ambassador this week, pushing Canada to seek help from the United Arab Emirates and Britain to try to defuse the dispute.

Since rising to power in 2015, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has courted Western allies to support his reform plans, offering billions of dollars of arms sales and promising to fight radicalism in the kingdom. Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments were discussed during his trips to the United States and Europe.

The dispute with Canada has shed light on scores of political and rights activists arrested in Saudi Arabia over the last two years.

State news agency SPA said Riyadh had stopped sending patients to Canadian hospitals and “is coordinating for the transfer of all Saudi patients from Canadian hospitals ... according to directives by the leadership.”

It was unclear how many Saudi patients would be affected by the decision and how many were covered by the kingdom’s health care system. The government provides health care services through several government agencies for public employees.

The move follows a series of measures the kingdom has taken since the row erupted on Monday.

The kingdom has suspended educational exchange programs with Canada and moved Saudi scholarship recipients to other countries, while Saudi state airline Saudi said it was suspending flights to and from Toronto.

Saudi Arabia’s main state wheat buying agency, the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO), has told grains exporters it will no longer accept Canadian-origin grains in its international purchase tenders, European traders said.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to hold a news conference in Montreal, where he will be pressed on the diplomatic crisis.

Canada is planning to seek help from Saudi Arabia’s closest ally, the UAE, and Britain to defuse the dispute which looks set to damage what is a modest bilateral trade relationship worth nearly $4 billion a year. Canadian exports to Saudi Arabia totaled about $1.12 billion in 2017, or 0.2 percent of the total value of Canadian exports.

However, the row threatens to undermine Riyadh’s drive to attract foreign investors, an effort hit by a series of sweeping policy initiatives by the top oil exporter’s absolute rulers.

Inside Saudi Arabia, the measures were supported by a media campaign criticizing Canada’s human rights record and praising the Saudi rulers’ firmness in “protecting the kingdom’s sovereignty.”

Crown Prince Mohammed has launched a campaign of social and economic change, but has not eased the absolute monarchy’s total ban on political activism.

Canada expressed concern over the arrests of activists in Saudi Arabia, including women’s rights campaigner Samar Badawi, and called for their release. Riyadh said that amounted to “a blatant interference in the kingdom’s domestic affairs”.</s>Saudi Arabia is halting the medical treatment of Saudi citizens in Canada according to reports

The Saudi government is coordinating the transfer of Saudi citizens in Canadian hospitals to ones outside the country.

The news agency cited Saudi Health Attaché in the US and Canada, Dr Fahd bin Ibrahim Al Tamimi.

This comes after Saudi Arabia recalled its Ambassador to Canada, and expelled the Canadian Ambassador in Riyadh following a row over human rights.

Canada's Foreign Office issued a statement of concern over the detainment of civil society and women’s rights activists.

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.

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 Canadian Ambassador Dennis Horak was subsequently declared persona non grata, and issued 24 hours to leave the country.

The Middle Eastern nation also subsequently froze all new trade and investment with Canada.

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, which as not based in any accurate or true information.

"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.

“The Canadian statement is a blatant interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols.

“It is a major, unacceptable affront to the Kingdom’s laws and judicial process, as well as a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty.”

“The Kingdom views the Canadian position as 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.”

In a direct threat to Canada, they concluded: “Any further step from the Canadian side in that direction will be considered as acknowledgement of our right to interfere in the Canadian domestic affairs.”

Saudi Arabia continued their firm response to Canada on Monday by suspending all direct flights to Toronto on the state airline.

The country also cancelled the scholarships of 16,000 Saudi students currently studying in Canada, ordering them to leave the country and find academic programmes elsewhere.</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic dispute with Canada over its arrest of women’s rights activists will not affect the kingdom’s oil sales to Canadian customers, the Saudi energy minister said Thursday.

The remarks by Khalid al-Falih show the limits of the ongoing quarrel and may calm some of the bluster surrounding the dispute that suddenly erupted Monday over Canadian diplomats’ tweets asking the kingdom to release the detained activists.

A statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted al-Falih as saying oil sales are not affected by politics as there is a “firm and longstanding policy that is not influenced by political circumstances.”

“The current diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Canada will not, in any way, impact Saudi Aramco’s relations with its customers in Canada,” the statement said, referring the state-run oil giant Saudi Arabian Oil Co.

Canada, itself one of the world’s five top energy producers, gets some 10 per cent of its oil imports from Saudi Arabia. Bilateral trade between the two nations is US$3 billion a year.

Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador on Monday and froze “all new business” with Ottawa over its criticism of the kingdom’s arrest of women’s rights activists. Among the arrested activists is Samar Badawi, whose writer brother Raif Badawi was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and later sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam while blogging.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that his nation would continue diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia but wouldn’t back down on raising human rights issues.

“Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and in public on questions of human rights,” he said.

Saudi Arabia plans to pull out thousands of students and medical patients from Canada over the spat. Since the crisis began, Saudi state-run television and other channels backing the kingdom have been airing programs criticizing Canada and accusing it of jailing “prisoners of conscience.”

The sudden decision bore the hallmarks of Saudi Arabia’s assertive 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also was the architect of the country’s war in Yemen and involved in the ongoing boycott of Qatar by four Arab nations.
Saudi Press Agency reports that all Saudi patients are being transferred from Canadian hospitals to other medical facilities outside Canada.