MONTREAL – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern Thursday overreports that human rights activists in Saudi Arabia face the death penalty.

The two countries are locked in a diplomatic dispute triggered by Canadiancriticism of the kingdom’s human rights record, but Trudeau said Canadacontinues to “engage diplomatically” with Saudi Arabia.

Human rights groups say Saudi prosecutors are seeking the death penalty forfive human rights activists, including, for the first time, a woman.

The five stand accused of inciting mass protests in mainly Shiite areas ofthe Sunni-ruled kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province. Human rights groupssay that the execution threat is a calculated bid to stifle dissent.

“I think it’s important to have positive relationships with countriesaround the world,” Trudeau told a press conference in British Columbia.

“At the same time, we have expressed our concern with the sentence handeddown by Saudi Arabia, our concern for defending human rights and our sharedvalues all around the world,” he added.

“Canada will continue to stand up strongly for human rights,” said Trudeau.

The Saudi government has not confirmed that the activists face the deathpenalty.

Two weeks ago Canada sparked fury in Riyadh by calling for the immediaterelease of detained activists, including award-winning women’s rightscampaigner Samar Badawi.

Saudi Arabia froze all new trade and investments, moved to pull outthousands of Saudi students from Canadian universities and pledged to stopall medical treatment programmes in Canada. State airline Saudia alsosuspended flights to Toronto.

In the end the Saudis gave its students an extension until September 22,according to several universities. – APP/AFP