Canada to probe use of its arms in Saudi crackdown

Montreal, July 30: Canada warned on Sunday that it was reviewing reports that Saudi Arabia has been using Canadian armoured vehicles in a crackdown in the Sunniruled kingdom’s Shiamajority east.

“We are looking at these claims very seriously... And have immediately launched a review,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in French, said in during a visit in central Canada.

The Globe and Mail reported earlier that light armored vehicles sold by Canada to Saudi Arabia had been used against Shia civilians in a major operation that left several people in the town of Awamiya in Eastern Province.

Experts told the newspaper that vehicles appearing in photos and videos of the Saudi operations were Gurkha RPVs produced by Terradyne Armored Vehicles near Toronto.

Earlier, a spokesman indicated that Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was “deeply concerned about this situation and has asked officials to review it immediately”

“If it is found that Canadian exports have been used to commit serious

Canadian media has reported that Saudi forces have been using Canadian armoured vehicles in crackdown against Shias in the eastern region of the kingdom

violations of human rights, the minister will take action,” added spokesman John Babcock.

“The government is actively seeking more information about Saudi Arabia’s current efforts to deal with its security challenges, the reports of civilian casualties, and the reports that Canadian-made vehicles have been used by Saudi Arabia in its current security operations,” he said.

“Canada will review all available information as it determines an appropriate course of action.”

Babcock said Ottawa had shared its concerns with Saudi Arabia, demanding that “its internal security operations be conducted in a manner consistent with international human rights law.”