In what came as a shocker to many in Canada as well as the western world, a Saudi Arabian youth group posted on Twitter an image showing an Air Canada plane heading towards the iconic CN Tower in Toronto in an apparent reference to the 9/11 attacks.
In a chilling message, the organisation called Infographic KSA wrote on the poster, “As the Arabic saying goes: ‘He who interferes with what doesn’t concern him finds what doesn’t please him’.”
The caption on the image read, “Sticking one’s nose where it doesn’t belong.” The message was also posted in Arabic and French.
Many in Canada were offended with the image and said that it reminded them of the 11 September 2001 attacks in which two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York killing 2,977 people besides the 19 hijackers 15 of whom were citizens of Saudi Arabia.
More very concerning rhetoric emerging from #SaudiArabia, once again involving aviation.
In Saudi’s latest rift, now with #Canada — an account connected to the Saudi Royal Court has published images with text of an @AirCanada Boeing 767 descending towards CN Tower in Toronto 😳 pic.twitter.com/FKcrikI5QD
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) August 6, 2018
The youth group describes itself as a “voluntary non-profit project” which is “interested in technology and social media Facts backed by numbers and evidence.”
Canadian media house CBC said that the group apologised saying, “The aircraft was intended to symbolize the return of the ambassador. We realize this was not clear and any other meaning was unintentional.”
But the outrage forced Infographic KSA not only to delete the tweet but also deactivate their verified Twitter account. Before it got deleted, the account had over 350,000 followers, with another 88,000 on Instagram.
The poster was published following Saudi Arabia’s criticism of Canada’s condemnation of the Kingdom’s human rights record.
On 3 August, the Canadian government had expressed concern over the arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed dissident Raif Badawi.
“Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists,” a tweet posted by Foreign Policy CAN read.
Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists.
— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) August 3, 2018
Saudi Arabia responded severely. Not only did Riyadh warned Ottawa not to “interfere” in the “internal affairs” of Saudi Arabia but said that Canada’s position was “an attack on the KSA” that attempted to “undermine the sovereignty” of the Kingdom.
#Statement | KSA through its history has not and will not accept any form of interfering in the internal affairs of the Kingdom. The KSA considers the Canadian position an attack on the KSA and requires a firm stance to deter who attempts to undermine the sovereignty of the KSA.
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 5, 2018
In a strong response, Saudi Arabia’s state airliner suspended its direct flights to Toronto while the Kingdom froze all trade with the North American country and expelled Canada’s ambassador.
Not the one to back down, Canada responded saying it “will continue to advocate for human rights”.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said she was “deeply concerned” by the diplomat’s expulsion, but added, “Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including women’s rights and freedom of expression around the world. We will never hesitate to promote these values and we believe that this dialogue is critical to international diplomacy.”
The leading Saudi women’s rights campaigner Manal al-Sharif thanked Canada for “speaking up” and asked when other Western powers would do the same.