Saudi Arabia has apparently threatened a 9/11-style aircraft attack on Canada in an astonishing tweet. A Twitter account linked to the Saudi government posted an image showing a plane flying towards the skyline in Toronto. The post was later deleted and reposted with the plane removed.
Two captions were posted on the original image – one reading ‘sticking one’s nose where it doesn’t belong’, while the other said: ‘As the Arabic saying goes: ‘He who interferes with what doesn’t concern him finds what doesn’t please him.” Saudi Arabia’s media ministry is investigating the incident, which came as tensions between the two countries escalated.
They are involved in a human rights row over Canada’s demands for Canadian activists jailed in the kingdom to be released. In response, the Saudi government has expelled Canada’s ambassador from the country and frozen all new trade with Canada. On Monday, the Saudi foreign ministry tweeted: ‘The kingdom announces that it is recalling its ambassador to Canada for consultation.
‘We consider the Canadian ambassador to the kingdom persona non grata and order him to leave within the next 24 hours.’ But Canada has stood firm, with Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland insisting it would defend human rights around the world.
Later, airline Saudia suspended all flights to and from Toronto and Riyadh said it will relocate the thousands of Saudi students studying in Canada. A number of rights campaigners, including award-winning gender rights activist Samar Badawi, have been arrested in the kingdom. Canada has said it is ‘gravely concerned’ about the arrests and has called for those detained to be released immediately.
No comments:
Post a Comment