Amnesty calls for independent probe over Khashoggi case

By Dandy Koswaraputra

JAKARTA (AA) - Amnesty International Indonesia director on Saturday called on the international community to hold an independent investigation into Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.

"We call on international community to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice," Usman Hamid said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency.

"If the reports are true, they must immediately launch an independent investigation and those responsible, no matter how high their ranks or status are, must face justice," he added.

Hamid also called on the international community to end its "deafening silence over Saudi Arabia's crackdown on freedom of expression".

Hamid said the killing of Khashoggi in Saudi Consulate "would amount to an extrajudicial execution."

Hamid urged Turkish authorities to "disclose the full findings of their investigation, to bring clarity to Khashoggi’s family and aid the pursuit of justice".

"This case sends a shockwave among Saudi Arabian human rights defenders and dissidents everywhere […]" he added.

On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.