MANAMA, 6 June — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, canceled his visit to Canada in the wake of the strident anti-Saudi media campaign in that country and the statement of Canadian foreign minister regarding reports of alleged torture of a Canadian prisoner in the Kingdom.
This was disclosed here yesterday by Interior Minister Prince Naif.
“That is not a big thing for the crown prince as he did it to uphold the Kingdom’s sovereignty and honor which cannot be surrendered to blackmail,” the prince said while speaking to reporters after a meeting of GCC interior ministers in Bahrain.
Canadian Foreign Minister John Manley said in a press statement that he was “very concerned” with reports of alleged torture of William Sampson, a Canadian jailed in Riyadh for involvement in two blasts in the capital last year.
The Canadian media raised an outcry, publishing reports of the alleged torture which has been denied by Saudi authorities.
Prince Naif said every country has the right to implement the laws and regulations that it deems appropriate.
“We are implementing Shariah, the law of God, and there is no way to change it or back down or lessen any judicial law,” he said, adding that no press report or article or statement could change fundamentals. “They are not subject to debate in any way,” he said.
Prince Naif urged expatriates to honor the Kingdom’s regulations.
