At UN, Saudi vows to prosecute Khashoggi’s assassins

President of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia, Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban delivers a speech before the UN Human Rights Council during the Universal Periodic Review on November 5, 2018 in Geneva [Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images]

A Saudi diplomat yesterday confirmed to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the kingdom is investigating the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, adding that those responsible for his death will be prosecuted.

President of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia Bandar Al Aiban said: “The prosecution initiated the necessary investigations to unveil all the facts, bring all the murderers to justice, and punish those guilty of killing Khashoggi.”

OPINION: So that Jamal Khashoggi’s blood wasn’t shed in vain

After denying Khashoggi’s death for three weeks, Saudi Arabia confessed he was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.

Saudi Attorney General, Saud Bin Abdullah bin Mubarak, visited Istanbul last month as part of the investigation into Khashoggi’s assassination.

Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate in early October. Turkey says it has audio recordings which prove he was strangled then dismembered however it has yet to release the evidence.

So much for Freedom of Expression in Saudi Arabia – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

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