CTV News in Saudi Arabia: Canada raises human rights concerns as PM Carney visits kingdom

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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she raised human rights concerns and specific consular cases involving Canadian citizens during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Jeddah on Thursday.

“Engagement doesn’t mean endorsement,” Anand said. “It is necessary to fulfil Canadian values, to represent those values on the world stage and to bring those values to the table.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney was scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman later Thursday during the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the kingdom in more than 25 years. Carney and senior Canadian officials are seeking to strengthen economic ties and explore investment opportunities in Canada.

Saudi Arabia has long faced criticism from international organizations over its human rights record. Relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia deteriorated sharply in 2018 after then-foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland called on Saudi Arabia through social media posts to immediately release jailed human rights activists, including Samar Badawi, who had campaigned against the kingdom’s former male guardianship system.

Saudi Arabia condemned Freeland’s comments as interference in its domestic affairs, expelled Canada’s ambassador and threatened to divest assets held in Canada.

Badawi was released from prison in 2021. The two countries began restoring diplomatic relations in 2023, and Carney’s visit is being viewed as the culmination of years of efforts to rebuild ties.

“We’re moving from reconciliation to seeing what opportunities exist now that trust has been rebuilt, and how we can build on that trust to create prosperity and opportunities for both Canadians and Saudis,” said Jeffrey Steiner of the Canada-Saudi Business Council.

Canada and Saudi Arabia conduct about $4 billion in bilateral trade annually.

Anand also condemned what she described as Iranian actions that threaten regional stability following the ceasefire agreement that halted hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

“The attacks over the last number of days and the Iranian steps that it continues to take — including what appears to be maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz — are unacceptable,” Anand said. “That has to be front and centre as parties continue negotiating toward a permanent ceasefire.”