A couple of weeks ago, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland sent out a tweet criticizing the arrest of Saudi women’s rights activists.
The tweet has since sparked diplomatic retaliations from the Saudi Arabian government, including the Saudi government’s decision to pull all Saudi students studying in Canada under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP). The program covers tuition, health insurance, language classes, and a monthly stipend for living expenses.
While the Saudi government said it will relocate the students to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the decision has left many Saudi students in limbo.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website, there were 8,310 Saudi students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary schools from January to May 2018.
A sudden decision like this one may have dire consequences on students’ futures and mental health. For example, medical students in the final year of their residency in Canada might find themselves starting from scratch at a hospital in Australia; teaching systems between the two countries differ.
Additionally, moving to a new place as a student already comes with challenges, from culture shock, to feeling home sick, and having to become accustomed to a new environment. Saudi students who have become comfortable in their Canadian environment now have to do this all over again.
The governments of Saudi Arabia and Canada should resolve their human rights dispute without making students pay the price, as it can affect their futures and mental well-being.
