Maja Kocijancic
The European Commission on Tuesday called on Saudi Arabia to collaborate with Turkish authorities on investigating the killing last month of a journalist at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
"We expect Saudi institutions to provide all the information they have about the case and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. This needs to be done in full collaboration with the Turkish authorities," commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told a press briefing in Brussels.
"From the very beginning we have been asking Saudi Arabia to shed light on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi through a full credible, transparent and prompt investigation," she added.
Germany urged Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to support Turkey’s investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and bring the perpetrators and their superiors to justice.Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stressed that Germany expects a “full investigation” into the killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.“We have supported the investigation done by the Turkish authorities. And we also think that the Saudi authorities should have supported the investigation more than they did. Many questions remain open,” he said.Maas stressed that all those responsible for the murder should be brought to justice and punished.“We expect that those responsible for this crime will be held responsible. Not just the perpetrators, but also those who ordered this murder, if indeed there were such people,” he added.Journalists in UK call for action against Saudi ArabiaKhashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was killed on Oct. 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After weeks of denying involvement, the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi had been killed at the consulate but claimed that the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of a plot to murder him.So far, 18 people, including security officers, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the murder.Last week, Turkish prosecutors announced their preliminary findings, saying Khashoggi was strangled to death in a premeditated killing soon after he entered the consulate.The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said Khashoggi's body was disposed of after being dismembered.Saudi authorities have so far claimed that they do not know the whereabouts of his remains.
Germany says all behind Khashoggi murder should be punished
Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was killed on Oct. 2.
After weeks of denying involvement, the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi had been killed at the Saudi Consulate but claimed that the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of a plot to murder him.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini earlier said: "We expect a thorough investigation and full transparency from the Saudi authorities on what has happened."
A major journalists’ union in the U.K. on Tuesday said governments across the world have economic levers, diplomatic tools and international instruments to bring the killers of Jamal Khashoggi and people who ordered it to justice.A National Union of Journalists (NUJ) spokesperson told Anadolu Agency that the union supports the International Federation of Journalists’ call for governments to end their cooperation with the Saudi government until it "tells the truth and arrests the perpetrators".The NUJ reiterated its call on the British government "to ensure there is a full and independent inquiry into the killing" of journalist Khashoggi, the spokesperson said, adding “there must be no impunity.”UK, Canada say urgent need to resolve Khashoggi murder“All governments can act - they have economic levers, diplomatic tools and international instruments to seek to bring the killers and those who ordered it to justice,” the statement from the NUJ said.The NUJ held vigils outside Saudi embassies in London and Dublin, condemning the murder.The Foreign Press Association (FPA) also reacted to the murder.Saudis sent 'clean-up' team to Turkey after Khashoggi killing, official says“We ask that the perpetrators of the murders in Malta of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Jamal Kashoggi in Turkey, journalists in Mexico, Afghanistan, Bulgaria and across the world be held to account and brought to justice,” a statement on the FPA website said.Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to receive paperwork he needed to get married.Once inside, he was immediately strangled and then dismembered, according to the Istanbul Prosecutor’s office.
Journalists in UK call for action against Saudi Arabia
In a non-binding resolution on Oct. 25, the European Parliament condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the reported torture and killing of the journalist.
The EP urged an "independent and impartial" international probe of the killing, also warning that targeted sanctions could be imposed if Saudi agents are found guilty in his death.
Last week, Turkish prosecutors announced their preliminary findings, saying Khashoggi was strangled to death in a premeditated killing soon after he entered the consulate.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said Khashoggi's body was disposed of after being dismembered.
Saudi authorities have so far claimed that they do not know the whereabouts of his remains.
Britain and Canada said Monday that establishing what happened to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi remains an “urgent need”.In a phone call, UK Prime Minister Theresa May and her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau discussed Saudi Arabia and the “appalling” murder of Khashoggi, agreeing there was an urgent need to establish what happened and for those responsible to be held to account, said a statement from Downing Street.Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to receive paperwork he needed to get married.Once inside, he was immediately strangled and then dismembered, according to the Istanbul Prosecutor’s office.The British government’s statement said May and Trudeau also agreed that the international community should continue to press for a “thorough, credible and transparent investigation by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.After days of denying any knowledge of Khashoggi’s whereabouts, Saudi Arabian officials said he died in a “brawl” in the consulate but later admitted that he was killed there.May and Trudeau also discussed Yemen and agreed on the pressing need to alleviate the humanitarian situation and reach a political solution. “We supported the U.S. call for de-escalation in Yemen, noting that it must be underpinned by a political deal between the conflict parties,” said May.The UK, France and Germany alongside numerous other countries have condemned the murder of Khashoggi.Saudis sent 'clean-up' team to Turkey after Khashoggi killing, official saysUS condemns Khashoggi killing, tells UN an investigation is essential‘Turkey looks for person who ordered Khashoggi killing’
UK, Canada say urgent need to resolve Khashoggi murder