EU calls for justice in Khashoggi murder case

By Serife Cetin

BRUSSELS (AA) - The European Union on Friday called for justice in the murder case of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“For all those responsible for this killing, due process will of course be an important element to ensure justice in this case which is something that family, friends, and the international community have been asking for weeks now,” the European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said.

When asked if the EU plans to take a similar step as the U.S. decided to sanction 17 people tied to the murder of Khashoggi, Kocijancic said that the bloc has "been very vocal on the Khashoggi case from the very beginning.”

“Together with the international partners we will also continue to stress the fact that the measures need to be put in place in order to ensure that such crimes do not happen again,” she added.

On Thursday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on 17 people, including the Saudi Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad al-Otaibi.

Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi diplomatic facility shortly after he entered the consulate Oct. 2.

Saudi Arabia had offered shifting explanations for Khashoggi's disappearance before suggesting he was killed during a botched rendition operation by rogue agents.

Kocijancic said that the EU has asked Saudi authorities to have a “credible and transparent investigation.”