The Saudi Arabia and Canada spat have sparked fury and escalated tensions in the region
HYDERABAD: The Saudi Arabia and Canada spat have sparked fury and escalated tensions in the region. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman al Saud, has curbed the views of dissents. Recently, the execution of a rights activist has caused much agitation worldwide.
As Canada expressed its concern over the violation of human rights in KSA, the kingdom expelled Canada’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and called back hundreds of patients from Canada. Flights to Toronto have also been suspended.
In this context, the Crown Prince’s vision of freedom and advocacy of human rights seem blurred. Though he has won accolades on his crackdown against corrupt aristocratic leaders in his kingdom, his silence misinterprets his vision’s so-called moderation.
If he fails to take a stance, the world human rights bodies such as Amnesty International should take notice of the issue and intervene.
Javed Mohsin Hashmi
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2018.
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