After educational institutions, Saudi Arabia suspends airline operations in Canada
Riyadh/Ottawa, Aug 7 (IBNS): After educational institutions, Saudi Arabia has suspended its airline operations in Canada following the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador citing interference in its internal matter, media reports said.
In a tweet, Saudi Airlines said the air route between the two countries will cease to function in a matter of days.
"All Saudia flights from/to Toronto, Canada will be suspended starting from 13 Aug 2018" the tweet has been quoted by CTV News.
Transport Canada did not respond yet on the development.
Earlier, Saudi Ministry of Education spokesperson Mubarak Alosaimi tweeted to say that he had been instructed to stop all education programmes including scholarship, training programmes and fellowships in Canada.
The Saudi Arabian Cultural in Canada said on Twitter that students, who are studying at their own expenses or government's funds, must stop studying in Canada at the end of the lunal year, CTV News reported.
Last week, Canada had expressed grave concern about the arrest of human rights activists, including Saudi-American women's rights campaigner Samar Badawi, by Saudi authorities.
Demanding release of the activists, Canada's Foreign Ministry had 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."
Responding to Canada's request, Saudi Arabia said it was an attack on the kingdom and had granted the Canadian ambassador 24 hours after considering the latter persona non grata.
It said that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take further action.
Meanwhile, the recent arrests have undone the progress the country achieved under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Under the Prince, Saudi Arabia has allowed women to drive cars and have brought in a host of women friendly changes.
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