Canada Hajj pilgrims, Saudi students face uncertainty due to diplomatic row
Source: Reuters
As the stalemate continues, Canada is reaching out to its allies, including the United States and European Union, to rally support, and talking to Saudi Arabia to resolve the dispute.
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Riyadh abruptly severed diplomatic and trade ties earlier this month in response to Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland’s tweet demanding the release of civil society activists in the kingdom. Riyadh also ended state-backed educational and medical programs in Canada, resulting Saudi students here hustling to return home.
In Halifax, the Ummah Masjid organized yard sales to help students sell their furniture, electronics and even cars.
“Some of them, they only come one week ago and they are prepared to leave,” said Abdallah Yousri, the mosque’s imam. “Some of them, they were in Saudi Arabia for summer vacation, and they just came to sell their products and then [leave].”
Categories: Canada, Hajj, Human Rights, Middle East, North America, Saudi Arabia, The Muslim Times