Saudi Arabia grants extension to medical trainees ordered to move out of Canada
Ottawa, Aug 23 (IBNS) Saudi Arabia has granted an extension to its deadline given to medical trainees who were ordered to move out of Canada amid an embittered relationship between the two countries, media reports said.
The deadline has been extended by three weeks.
The Saudi medical trainees, who were given Aug 31 deadline, are now asked to leave Canada by Sept 22.
The extension has been confirmed by HealthCareCAN, a national group which represents hospitals and health-care organisations.
Paul-Émile Cloutier, president and CEO of HealthCareCAN, told CTV News, "It relieves these students who were under a great deal of stress and had to get themselves ready to leave by the end of August. There’s an enormous sense of relief that they’ve gotten a few more weeks to prepare themselves to leave."
The relationship between the two nations turned bitter after Canada 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.
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