A Saudi official reportedly issued what was perceived as a death threat against a UN investigator following his investigation into the murder 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 of a UN colleague in January 2020. A Saudi official posed two threats. against Callamard during a meeting of senior UN officials in Geneva, at which it was reported that the official threatened to “attend to her” if the UN did not reign supreme.
“A death threat. That’s how it was understood, ”Callamard said when asked how his colleagues viewed the statement.
After UN officials sounded the alarm over the threat, other Saudi officials tried to reassure them that the threat should not be taken seriously, The Guardian reports. But after officials left, the Saudi official remained and repeated his alleged threat to UN officials.
“I was informed at that time and it was an occasion when the United Nations was really very strong on this issue. The people who were present, and also later, made it clear to the Saudi delegation that this was absolutely inappropriate and that this was expected to go no further, “Callamard told the Guardian.
During the “high-level” meeting between Saudi diplomats in Geneva, which visited Saudi officials and senior UN officials, Callamard’s investigation into Khashoggi’s assassination was angrily criticized by the Saudis, Callamard said. Saudi officials reportedly unfoundedly claimed 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 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 has ordered Khashoggi’s presence. death.
The Biden administration has been criticized for its decision not to penalize the Crown Prince for Khashoggi’s assassination, although it imposed sanctions and visa restrictions against other Saudi figures related to the assassination.
“This is a crucial step because it structurally addresses an unacceptable pattern of segmentation, control, harassment and threats for dissidents and journalists,” the White House press secretary said. Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOn The Money: New Batch of Stimulus Payments for Success Accounts Wednesday | Biden eyes T infrastructure package Senate confirms Walsh as White House Labor secretary with eyes sweeping T-spending proposal Texas Democrat’s office reveals photos of crowded border patrol facilities MORE he said in early March when he defended the administration’s decision. “Our national security team believes that pursuing the network responsible for these actions is the best way to prevent a crime like this from being committed.”