Saudis reject Dion’s demand to release Raif Badawi to join family in Canada

'If we asked Canada to send...a Canadian citizen, in Canadian jail, to Saudi Arabia, do you accept that?' the Saudi ambassador asks.

Saudi Ambassador Naif Bin Bandir AlSudairy, left, dined with Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion, right, and Canadian journalists in March at the Saudi residence in Ottawa. Canada's relationship with Saudi Arabia is 'complicated,' says Conservative foreign affairs critic Peter Kent.The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

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BY PETER MAZEREEUW

October 26, 2016

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Canada shot down a call from Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion to release imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi and allow him to join his family in Canada, saying Mr. Badawi’s case had nothing to do with relations between the two countries.

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