Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to welcome you here.
It's a very trying story. For me, it's almost personal, because I spent six months in Saudi Arabia in 1979. Upon my arrival, within the first five days there was a beheading of a so-called criminal. There were amputations. The culture shock was absolutely amazing.
The position we find ourselves in here is actually a clash of cultures, to a great extent. Saudi Arabia is a kingdom, and within that particular country the male's rights supersede the woman's rights. Certainly we don't agree with this, but taking into account what's happening.... If you compare some things to Canada, in a family dispute if a spouse wants to remove a child from a province, he or she has to get permission.
As I listen to the evidence, the paper trail in Saudi Arabia sounds very convoluted. There have been mistakes made on someone's part, whether deliberate or by accident.
My experience over there was that the king holds a day on which any Saudi can sit down and petition the king. It strikes me that the only avenue that may well be open here is a direct petition to the king.
Ms. Adam, I think you mentioned that there were ongoing negotiations. Were you suggesting that the Canadian government is somehow negotiating with the Saudi government? Are you aware of who would be involved?