With the mystery of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance from the country’s consulate in Turkey sending shockwaves, the United Nations has called for an independent and full investigation that involves both Riysdh and Ankara.
The UN statement from the human rights office OHCHR Wednesday said the “apparent enforced disappearance of Mr Khashoggi from the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul is of serious concern.”
OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva expressed grave concern over reports of the prominent journalist and critic of Riyadh’s policies being killed on October 2, when he walked into the Saudi Consulate.
“If reports of his death and the extraordinary circumstances leading up to it are confirmed, this is truly shocking.”
“We call for cooperation between Turkey and Saudi Arabia to conduct a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the circumstances into Mr Khashoggi’s disappearance and to make the findings public,” Ms Shamdasani said.
UN rights experts have also expressed deep concern over reports of Khashoggi having been killed.
“We are concerned that the disappearance of Mr Kahshoggi is directly linked to his criticism of Saudi policies in recent years,” said Bernard Duhaime, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye, and the UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard.
“We reiterate our repeated calls on the Saudi authorities to open the space for the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to life and of expression and dissent,” a joint statement said.
Some Turkish media reports say Kahshoggi went to the Saudi consulate a week ago to obtain a divorce document that would allow him to remarry his Turkish fiancée. She went with him, but had to wait outside for 11 hours.
Riyadh says the journalist left the consulate soon but Turkish government officials and media say there is no proof of his leaving the diplomatic facility. Riyadh has conversely expressed its own concern over disappearance of the journalist.
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