UN to assess ‘governments' steps’ on Khashoggi case

By Bayram Altug and Bahattin Gonultas

DAVOS, Switzerland

A UN official on extrajudicial executions will assess the “steps taken by governments to address and respond” to the killing of a Saudi journalist in Istanbul, and launch an international inquiry, the United Nations said on Friday.

In a statement, the UN’s Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner said that Agnes Callamard, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, will head an international inquiry into the killing last fall in Istanbul of Jamal Khashoggi, starting with a visit to Turkey from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

Callamard will “assess the steps taken by governments to address and respond to the killing, and the nature and extent of states’ and individuals’ responsibilities for the killing,” the statement said.

“The inquiry will also seek to identify ways by which states can strengthen fulfillment of their international commitments to protect the right to life, prevent violations and ensure accountability,” the statement quoted Callamard as saying.

This inquiry was established at Callamard’s request, the statement added.

The probe will “review and evaluate, from a human rights perspective, the circumstances surrounding the killing of Khashoggi,” the statement said, adding: “Callamard will be accompanied by Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC, and Professor Duarte Nuno Vieira from the University of Coimbra [Portugal].”

On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated that Turkey is carrying out a transparent process on the case and that it is important to expose the culprits in the killing.

Citing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks calling for an international probe of the case, Cavusoglu said Callamard would visit Turkey at the end of January.

Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post, was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After producing various contradictory explanations, Riyadh acknowledged he was killed inside the consulate building, blaming the act on a botched rendition operation.

Turkey has sought the extradition of the Saudi citizens involved in the killing as well as a fuller accounting of the killing from Riyadh.