A spokesman for the International Society for Human Rights, Martin Lessenthin, said: “We are witnesses to what a democratic state like Canada is being subjected to in terms of condemnation by Saudi Arabia,” adding that democratic states should not remain silent.
Saudi-Canadian relations deteriorated after Canadian Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, publicly criticised the arrest of human rights activists in Saudi Arabia.
In response, Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador and withdrawing its envoy from Canada.