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updated 10:20 AM UTC, Dec 13, 2023

Killing Of Saudi Journalist Khashoggi Was Perpetrated By Saudi Govt. – UN Independent Expert

Unic Press UK: A report ‘preliminary observations of the human rights inquiry into the killing of Mr. Kashoggi following the country visit to Turkey’ of the United Nations independent expert says that the evidence collected in Turkey with regard to the death of a Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi serve as proof of “a brutal and premeditated killing, planned and perpetrated by officials of the State of Saudi Arabia and others acting under the direction of these State agents.”

In the report https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24143&LangID=E the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings, Agnes Callamard who lead an international human rights inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, said:

“The evidence presented to us during the mission to Turkey demonstrates a prime facie case that Mr. Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal and premeditated killing, planned and perpetrated by officials of the State of Saudi Arabia and others acting under the direction of these State agents.  The mission could not firmly establish whether the original intention was to abduct Mr. Khashoggi, with his murder planned only in the eventuality of this abduction failing. What is abundantly clear is that much planning and preparation took place following Mr. Khashoggi’s initial visit to the consulate on 28 September:  the establishment and travel of the three teams that carried out the operation; the presence of a look-alike of Mr. Khashoggi who was seen leaving the consulate; the presence of a forensic doctor; the escape of the teams’ members and, of course, the disposal of Mr. Khashoggi’s body – the whereabouts of which is still unknown. The Turkish authorities, subsequently, were also deliberately denied the access and in-depth technical examination needed to discover, preserve and analyse evidence on the killing.”

The UN accused the Saudi national authorities of failing to abide with international legal standards/framework, including the Minnesota Protocol for the investigation of extrajudicial executions, along with the UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, thereby undermining and curtailing Turkey’s compliance with international legal standards.

The report also states that Turkey has requested the extradition of 11 suspects reportedly tried in Saudi Arabia and international arrest warrants through Interpol concerning 20 individuals.

 

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