UN urges Turkey, S Arabia to probe disappearance

FE Team | Published: October 09, 2018 23:39:03

Human rights activists and friends of Saudi journalist Khashoggi holding his pictures during a protest outside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday — Reuters

ANKARA, Oct 09 (Reuters): The United Nations (UN) human rights office voiced deep concern on Tuesday at the "apparent enforced disappearance" and possible murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi a week ago and urged the two countries to investigate.
"Yes, this is of serious concern, the apparent enforced disappearance of Mr Khashoggi from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul," UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a Geneva news briefing.
"If reports of his death and the extraordinary circumstances leading up to it are confirmed, this is truly shocking," she said.
Khashoggi was previously a prominent newspaper editor in Saudi Arabia and an adviser to a former head of intelligence. His disappearance has sparked global concern, particularly after Turkish sources said over the weekend that authorities believed he had been killed inside the consulate.