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UN urges international inquiry on Khashoggi killing

December 5, 2018 at 9:52 pm

Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York [Twitter]

The killing in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi should face an international probe, just not one by the UN, said the UN human rights chief on Wednesday, reports Anadolu Agency.

“We urged an international probe on the Khashoggi case. But we don’t have jurisdiction for a criminal investigation,” Michelle Bachelet, UN high commissioner for human rights, told reporters at the UN offices in Geneva.

“I do believe [an international investigation] is really needed in terms of ensuring what really happened and who is responsible for that awful killing,” she added.

Rebuffing charges of UN inaction, Bachelet said they have been waiting for “detailed information” as the UN can’t act in line with unconfirmed reports, reiterating that it lacks the jurisdiction to act itself.

Khashoggi, a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, was killed on October 2 shortly after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After weeks of denying involvement, the Kingdom admitted that Khashoggi had been killed at the consulate but claimed that the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of a plot to murder him.

Where is Jamal Khashoggi?... - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Where is Jamal Khashoggi?… – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]