UN experts demand probe into disappearance of Saudi journalist in Istanbul
GENEVA (9 October 2018) - UN experts have expressed their grave concern about the disappearance of Saudi journalist and
government critic, Jamal Khashoggi, in Istanbul, and called for a prompt independent and international investigation
into the case.
Jamal Khashoggi has been missing since entering the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on 2 October 2018. He has not
been seen since.
“We are deeply concerned at the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi, and at the allegations of state-sponsored murder,” said
the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Bernard Duhaime, the UN Special
Rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye, and the UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard.
“An independent international investigation must immediately be launched into the events. Those responsible -
perpetrators and masterminds - should be identified and brought to justice. We call on the Saudi and Turkish authorities
to cooperate fully to resolve this case.
“We are concerned that the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi is directly linked to his criticism of Saudi policies in
recent years,” the experts said. “We reiterate our repeated calls on the Saudi authorities to open the space for the
exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to life and of expression and dissent.”
Mr. David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Ms. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
The Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system,
is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific
country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis;
they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or
organization and serve in their individual capacity.
This year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948.
The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th
anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are
urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org.
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