RIYADH/OTTAWA – Canada on Monday refused to back down in its defense ofhuman rights after Saudi Arabia froze new trade and investment and expelledthe Canadian ambassador in retaliation for Ottawa’s call to free arrestedSaudi civil society activists.

In her first public response to Saudi Arabia’s actions, Foreign MinisterChrystia Freeland said, “Canada will always stand up for human rights inCanada and around the world, and women’s rights are human rights.”

Riyadh on Sunday recalled its ambassador from Canada and gave the Canadianambassador 24 hours to leave. The Saudi government also banned new tradewith Canada, although it was unclear if it would affect existing annualSaudi-Canadian trade of nearly $4 billion and a $13 billion defensecontract.

The moves were a stern rebuke to Canada after the country on Fridayexpressed concern over the arrests of activists in Saudi Arabia, includingprominent women’s rights campaigner Samar Badawi, and called for theirrelease.

Riyadh said that amounted to “a blatant interference in the Kingdom’sdomestic affairs, against basic international norms and all internationalprotocols.”