Saudi Arabia has ordered the Canadian ambassador to leave the Kingdom within 24 hours, and said it would freeze "all new business" between the Kingdom and Canada.

Saudi Arabia said it would recall its ambassador to Canada as well.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been made aware of the statement by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian Embassy in the Kingdom, on the so-called civil society activists who have been detained, urging Saudi authorities to release them immediately," the Saudi Press Agency said in a statement. 

"The Saudi ministry of foreign affairs has expressed disbelief by this negative unfounded comment, which was not based in any accurate or true information. The persons referred to were lawfully detained by the public prosecution for committing crimes punishable by applicable law, which also guaranteed the detainees' rights and provided them with due process during the investigation and trial."

The ministry called the Canadian statement a blatant interference in the Kingdom's domestic affairs, against "basic international norms and all international protocols".

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