Saudi Arabia plans to shift 12,000 Saudi students and their family members from Canada to other countries like the United States, in protest of recent Canadian statements, said a senior official on Monday.
The Undersecretary of the Education Ministry, Jassir Sulaiman, told Al Ekhbariya TV that the shifting process would take place with "top considerations of the general and educational interests of the students."
Saudi Arabia suspended on Monday ties with Canada over the statements by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Canadian Embassy in Riyadh on civil society activists who have been detained, which urged Saudi authorities to release them immediately.
The kingdom asked the Canadian envoy to leave the country within 24 hours, put investments between the two states on hold, and recalled its ambassador from Canada for negotiations.
Meanwhile, Sabq online local news said there are also directives to stop sending Saudi patients to Canada for treatment.
Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the kingdom will not accept any interferences and will react firmly.
