HRW: Turkey Should Request Inquiry from UN on Khashoggi Murder

* Photograph: Elif Öztürk / İstanbul - AA

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"Turkey should formally submit a request to the UN Secretary General to open an international, independent investigation into murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi", Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today (December 5).

The organization said the current investigation being conducted in Saudi Arabia is not trustworthy, in a statement released today.

Khashoggi, a Washington post columnist from Saudi Arabia, was murdered on October 2 in the Saudi Kingdom's consulate in İstanbul. His body is still missing. İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued an arrest warrant for Saud al-Qahtani, a former adviser for Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman on Wednesday.

UN will open investigation 'if Turkey makes a request'

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that he will establish an international investigation if he receives a formal request from the government of Turkey.

Several prominent figures in the UN also repeatedly called for an international investigation into the murder, including High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression David Kye, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances Bernard Duhaime and Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions Agnes Callamard.

HRW said, "An international investigation under the authority of the secretary general would have the mandate, credibility, and stature to press officials, witnesses, and suspects in Saudi Arabia to cooperate with requests for facts and information about the murder in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. It would help cut through efforts designed to shield Saudi officials and obfuscate the truth" in the statement.

Role of the Saudi Crown Prince

HRW Middle East Director Sarah Leah Whitson noted that "the main thing holding up an international investigation led by the secretary-general right now is the lack of a formal, written request from the Turkish government."

"The Turkish government should make good on its call for an international investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's death by formalizing it with an official letter to the secretary general", Whitson added.

Also mentioning the possible role of Saudi Crown Prince in the murder, Whitson said, "A UN investigation has the best chance of pushing Saudi Arabia to provide the needed facts and information about Mohamed bin Salman's precise role in this murder, information that is available only from sources in Saudi Arabia."

Saudi Arabia admitted that its officials murdered Khashoggi. But who ordered the murder and how was it carried out is still unclear. (AS/VK)