A Saudi official reportedly published what was perceived as a death threat against a United Nations investigator following his investigation into the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Speaking to The Guardian, Agnès Callamard, the organization’s special rapporteur for extrajudicial killings, said she was alerted to the threat by a UN colleague in January 2020. Two threats were allegedly made against Callamard by a Saudi official during a meetings of senior UN officials in Geneva, where the official threatened to “take care” of her if she was not controlled by the UN.
“It simply came to our notice then. That’s how it was understood, “Callamard said, when asked how her colleagues saw the statement.
After UN officials sounded the alarm about the threat, other Saudi officials tried to assure them that the threat should not be taken seriously, the Guardian reports. But after the officials left, the Saudi official remained and repeated his alleged threat to UN officials.
“It was reported to me at the time and it was an occasion when the United Nations was actually very strong on this issue. The people who were present and subsequently made it clear to the Saudi delegation that this was absolutely inappropriate and that they expected this not to go further, “Callamard told the Guardian.
During a “high-level” meeting between Saudi diplomats in Geneva, visiting Saudi officials and senior UN officials, Callamard’s investigation into Khashoggi’s killing was fiercely criticized by Saudis, Callamard said. Saudi officials also said unfoundedly that Callamard had been paid by the Qatari government.
According to The Guardian, Callamard’s 100-page report published in 2019 concluded that there was “credible evidence” that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind Khashoggi’s death, along with other Saudi officials. The Saudi government has repeatedly denied that the Crown Prince ordered Khashoggi to die.
The Biden administration has faced widespread criticism for its decision not to penalize the Crown Prince for killing Khashoggi, although it has issued sanctions and visa restrictions against other Saudi figures linked to the killing.
“This is a crucial step because it structurally addresses an unacceptable model of targeting, monitoring, harassing and threatening dissidents and journalists,” the White House press secretary said. Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOn The Money: A new batch of incentive payments to successful accounts on Wednesday Biden eyes T infrastructure package Senate Confirms Walsh as Secretary of Labor, White House, look at spending proposal T Texas Democrat Bureau reveals photos with crowded border patrol unit he said in early March when he defended the administration’s decision. “Our national security team believes that following the network responsible for these actions is the best way to prevent such a crime from happening again.”