A damning report has laid blame for the killing of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi firmly at the door of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. Independent UN human rights expert Agnes Callamard has released a 100-page document saying the Crown Prince and Saudi officials should be investigated further after stating there is “credible evidence” they are individually liable for his murder. Prominent journalist and vocal Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, 59, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October. The Saudi Kingdom has regularly denied the Crown Prince’s involvement in the murder.
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?
Mr Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate on October 2, 2018, where he was obtaining papers for his forthcoming marriage.
Two days later, Saudi Arabia released an official statement saying the Washington Post journalist disappeared after leaving the consulate.
This was disputed by Turkish officials, who said they had an audio recording of his killing inside the consulate on October 13.
The Saudi government subsequently changed its story, saying Mr Khashoggi had died in a “fistfight” with “rogue killers”.
Mr Khashoggi’s dismembered body is believed to have been later removed to an unknown location.
In Saudia Arabia, 11 people are now on trial for the journalist’s death in largely closed proceedings – five could face the death penalty.
In her report, Ms Callamard said Saudi authorities must have backed the killing even though there is no “smoking gun” indicating a personal order from the Crown Prince.
The UN’s special rapporteur has called on the United Nations to “demand” further investigations.
Her report is based on six months of enquiries in Turkey, with access to legal and forensic experts, and the aforementioned audio tape.
In her remarks about the Crown Prince and Saud Alqahtani, a senior Saudi royal court advisor, Ms Callamard wrote: “No conclusion is made as to guilt.
“It is the conclusion of the Special Rapporteur that Mr Khashoggi has been the victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution, an extrajudicial killing for which the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible under international human rights law.
“There is credible evidence, warranting further investigation of high-level Saudi officials’ individual liability, including the Crown Prince’s.
“Indeed, this human rights inquiry has shown that there is sufficient credible evidence regarding the responsibility of the Crown Prince demanding further investigation.”
Her recommendations include making international sanctions against the Crown Prince until he can prove is not responsible for the killing.
There has been no immediate response to the report from Saudi.