By Bayram Altug
GENEVA (AA) – United Nations (UN) called for an independent and impartial investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that international experts should be involved to investigate the Khashoggi murder and urged Saudi authorities to reveal the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body without any delay.
In a statement, Bachelet described the Khashoggi murder as “shockingly brazen crime.”
“For an investigation to be carried out free of any appearance of political considerations, the involvement of international experts, with full access to evidence and witnesses, would be highly desirable, ” she said.
“Forensic examination, including an autopsy on the body of the victim is a crucial element in any investigation into a killing, and I urge the Saudi authorities to reveal the whereabouts of his body without further delay or prevarication, ” she added.
Bachelet said she is pleased with the Turkish and Saudi authorities' efforts in investigating the murder.
“I welcome the steps taken by Turkish and Saudi authorities to investigate and prosecute the alleged perpetrators of Mr. Khashoggi’s murder, ” Bachelet stated.
“But given the information that high-level officials in Saudi Arabia were apparently involved, and it took place in the Consulate of Saudi Arabia, the bar must be set very high to ensure meaningful accountability and justice for such a shockingly brazen crime against a journalist and Government critic, ” she remarked.
Bachelet added that the full truth must be uncovered and offenders should pay the price.
Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, went missing after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
After weeks of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, on Oct. 20 Saudi officials admitted that the journalist had died inside the consulate building.
