What we know about the expelled diplomat
Saudi Arabia expelled Canada’s ambassador and accused Ottawa of violating its sovereignty over a tweet from Global Affairs Canada that called for the immediate release of civil and women’s rights activists. After the statement was reposted in Arabic on the Canadian embassy’s Twitter page on Sunday, Saudi Arabia gave the Canadian head of mission 24 hours to leave the country. Here’s everything we know about Dennis Horak, the man who was declared “persona non grata” by his host country over the diplomatic spat.
HE’S A CAREER DIPLOMAT
Horak earned an honours bachelor degree in political science from York University in 1983 and got his master’s degree from the London School of Economics in 1984. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1987. He was assigned to Stockholm in 1989, and Warsaw from 1990-93. After that, he returned to Ottawa to work in the UN Division and the Peacebuilding and Democratic Development Division. He had been serving as ambassador to Saudi Arabia since his appointment on July 31, 2015 — a second posting since, from 1996 to 1999, he was the mission’s political-economic program manager. Before heading up Riyadh, he directed the Middle East Relations Division at headquarters, a job he took on in 2012 after working as the Canadian head of mission and chargé d’affaires in Tehran.
HE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE HIS POST IN IRAN, TOO
Although it happens somewhat rarely, diplomats know that they may be called upon to act as pawns in the geopolitical games played by their home or host governments, and to leave their posts unceremoniously. It’s just Horak’s luck that he’s been put into such a position more than once. He was the outgoing head of mission when Canada cut ties with Iran in 2012. According to a report by the Toronto Star, Horak co-ordinated potential Canadian assistance for British diplomats after an attack on their Tehran embassy in 2011. He also arranged a review of procedures “to reduce our own vulnerability,” according to emails obtained under access-to-information law. A year before Canada would shut down the embassy — with the then-Conservative government saying safety concerns were part of the reason — Horak indicated the risk level for Canadians was low.
HORAK WAS LIKELY ALREADY OUT OF THE COUNTRY
Sources told CBC that Horak was in Toronto on annual leave when he was expelled from Saudi Arabia. Horak did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, but his automated out of office message confirmed he has been on vacation since July 19 and scheduled to return on Wednesday. Horak, who does not appear to have played a role in the drama that is directly affecting him, is “fine,” Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday. Horak is married to Sally Horak, and they have two children.
THE EMBASSY IS STILL OPEN
Freeland has stood by her ministry’s social-media defence of human rights. She said in a statement Tuesday she is “deeply concerned” that Saudi Arabia would expel Horak, though Canada’s embassy in Riyadh is continuing its regular operations.