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What is behind the spat between Canada and Saudi Arabia?
8-08-2018
What is behind the spat between Canada and Saudi Arabia? On surface it may seem like Canada trying to impose its Canadian values on Saudis. Thus, irritating the populist young heir to the throne, Mohammed Bin Salman, aka, MBS. In return, the unpredictable and impulsive MBS, known for his aggressive conduct in implementing his Vision 2030 for Saudi Arabia. Nothing could be far from the truth.
Don’t believe everything you see and hear on the news. This spat is intertwined with so many complex webs of undertones. To qualify it simply as a tit-for-tat diplomatic quarrel would be naïve.
This spat is about two leaders only helps MBS shore up support and increase popularity at home among his people. It has two government flexing their muscles to put the other one down or trying cornering the other party into a position of surrender, or at least force them to come to the negotiation table.
For now, its seems like an all-out war. A war where Canada has much to lose. Simply because, for MBS, the ends justify the means. To strengthen his grip on the Kingdom, the Crown Prince, MBS has been arresting anyone whom he feels a threat or viewed as dissenting voice to his power grip, including members of Saudi royal family.
Nonetheless, both sides have dug their heels, refusing to move from their positions. Some have suggested that this may be an attempt by the Liberals to deflect attention for continuing honouring the arms deal, previously signed by the Harper government. However, it seems as if Canada underestimated the extent MBS would be willing to go.
At the end, the Saudis also have much to lose, especially 15000 Saudi exchange students attending Canadian colleges and universities who are ordered to leave, ad those requiring medical attention. It will also affect Canadian economy, and at the end the taxpayer will end up paying the price. Although it may not be detrimental to an average Saudi citizen, but it won’t be long before an average Canadian start to feel the pinch of Saudi government halting its diplomatic and trade ties with Canada.
The entire dispute revolves around Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Chrystia Freeland, on August 2nd, taking to Twitter, criticizing various arrests and detention of women’s rights activists by Saudi Arabia. “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.” - @cafreeland
The activists mentioned in her Tweet is a relative of a Canadian citizen, Raif Badawi, who is the recipient of 2012 International Women of Courage Award, for challenging Saudi Arabia’s male guardian system.
On August 3rd, Canadian Foreign Ministry tweeted, “Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists” seeking immediate release of all activists and women’s rights activists.
The Saudis did not take interference by Canada in their internal matters lightly. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in a press conference criticized Canada’s statements, and accused Canada for “blatant interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs, against basic international norms and all international protocols”. He added that Freeland’s tweet was a “major, unacceptable affront to the Kingdom’s laws and judicial process, as well as a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty.”
The initial reaction by the Saudis to cut off diplomatic ties, by sending the Canadian Ambassador, who has one month left in his tenure, back to Canada.
On Wednesday, August 8th, the Saudis up the ante. It has halted its national flag carrier, Saudi Airlines flights to Canada, ended its student exchange program, affecting nearly 15000 Saudi students who attend Canadian colleges and universities, frozen new trades and investments with Ottawa, and ended all medical treatment programs.
All of this will have a negative impact on Canadian economy, especially the latest news quoted by the Financial times which reported that, “the Saudi Central Bank and State Pension Funds, have instructed their foreign assets managers to dispose of their Canadian equities, bonds, and cash holdings ‘no matter the cost’”
Absolutely no doubt, Canada’s Human Rights records is held in high esteem around the globe. Clearly, in this instance, we see Canadian government speaking out on behalf of a Canadian citizen, seeking their release from Saudi prison. We also know that Saudi Arabia is ranked among the top ten countries with the worst human rights record.
Therefore, it begs the question as to why Canada does not act against the other nine, such as Russia and China, and speak out against human rights violations, such as we had witnessed last year in Burma, where an honorary Canadian citizen, was a head of state when these inhuman violations occurred. Where was Canadian government’s moral compass at the time.
Where is Canadian government moral compass when it comes to millions of Uyghur Muslims detained by the Chinese government? Why the Canadian government has taken a soft approach against china for a Canadian citizen, Husyn Cecil, jailed in China over a decade, and is not being afforded a visit by the Canadian embassy staff?
Why the Canadian government opts for remaining silent where its own citizens are imprisoned, and international laws are not being respected or extended to diplomatic staff to meet their citizen.
Why Canadian government is being “selective” in its approach to make a hue and cry about the certain violation and remain silent about the other.
Or is there more to the current spat with Saudi Arabia than what meets the eyes.
If Canadian government was serious about human rights, women rights etc than it would treat all violations in all countries equally with the same response. If Canada is really serious, we should cancel all Saudi oil imports and stop the sale of combat vehicles.
Canada cannot profit from a deal that is worth $15 billion, and also criticize them on the human rights record.
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