UN human rights office says Saudi trial of Jamal Khashoggi case 'not sufficient', calls for independent international probe

Geneva: The United Nations human rights office said on Friday it could not assess the fairness of a trial taking place in Saudi Arabia related to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but that in any case it was “not sufficient”.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani, asked about reports that a Saudi prosecutor had sought the death sentence for five suspects linked to the Oct. 2 killing, reiterated the office’s call for an independent investigation “with international involvement”.

The UN rights office always opposed the death penalty, she added.

Meanwhile, the US also questioned the “credibility” of the investigation into Khashoggi’s death. A State Department official said on Friday, “The US does not believe the Saudi version of the October killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has “hit that threshold of credibility,” even as Saudi Arabia prosecutes suspects.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will emphasise the need for accountability and credibility in the investigation of Khashoggi’s death during a visit next week to the Middle East, including to Riyadh, the official said.

“The Secretary has been very consistent in engagements with Saudis. To really push the two points of accountability and credibility, which is that the Saudis should have a credible narrative for what happened,” said the official, who briefed reporters on Pompeo’s trip.