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yorkie1999

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Buce

Buce

Posted
Posted (edited)

And still we cozy up to this vile regime:

‘Credible evidence’ Saudi crown prince liable for Khashoggi killing – UN report

 

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia should be investigated over the murder of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi because there is “credible evidence” that he and other senior officials are liable for the killing, according to a damning and forensic UN report.

In an excoriating 100-page analysis published on Wednesday of what happened to Khashoggi last October, Agnes Callamard, the UN’s special rapporteur, says the death of the journalist was “an international crime”.

“It is the conclusion of the special rapporteur that Mr Khashoggi has been the victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution, an extrajudicial killing for which the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible under international human rights law,” she says.

 

Using recordings of conversations from inside the Istanbul consulate where Khashoggi was killed, her report pieces together his last moments, and how he was confronted by Saudi officials, one of whom said: “We are coming to get you.”

When Khashoggi refused to cooperate, a struggle can be heard, including heavy panting. The special rapporteur’s report concludes: “Assessments of the recordings by intelligence officers in Turkey and other countries suggest that Mr Khashoggi could have been injected with a sedative and then suffocated using a plastic bag.”

The report highlights how critics of the kingdom are deliberately targeted, and comes amid a number of claims that Saudi Arabia has been using sophisticated surveillance spyware to hack the phones of journalists and academics.

The Guardian can now reveal it has been warned that its journalists have been targeted by a hacking unit inside Saudi Arabia.

Despite repeated requests to the Saudi authorities to address the claims, and to provide reassurance that no such operation is under way, the kingdom has refused to do so.

The UN report’s findings will heap pressure on the kingdom, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has repeatedly been urged to explain what he knew about the murder of Khashoggi.

The kingdom initially denied any involvement, and then described it as a rogue operation that the heir to the throne knew nothing about.

That is not the view of the special rapporteur’s report. Its main findings include:

• There is credible evidence, warranting further investigation, of high-level Saudi officials’ individual liability, including the crown prince’s.

• Khashoggi’s death was an extrajudicial killing. His attempted kidnapping would constitute a violation under international human rights law … and may constitute an act of torture under the terms of the convention against torture.

• The investigations conducted by Saudi Arabia and Turkey failed to meet international standards regarding the investigation into unlawful deaths.

• The Saudi investigation into the murder was not conducted in good faith, and might amount to obstructing justice.

The report demands that the trial of the 11 suspects in Saudi Arabia be suspended amid concerns about secrecy over the proceedings and lack of credibility.

It states: “Some eight months after the execution of Mr Khashoggi, the determination and assignment of individual responsibilities remain clouded in secrecy and lack of due process.”

It adds: “To date the Saudi state has failed to offer public recognition of its responsibility for the killing of Mr Khashoggi, and it has failed to offer an apology to Mr Khashoggi’s family, friends and colleagues for his death and for the manner in which he was killed.

“The special rapporteur obtained information regarding a financial package offered to the children of Mr Jamal Khashoggi but it is questionable whether such a package amounts to compensation under international human rights law.”

Khashoggi, 59, was killed when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October last year. One of the Middle East’s most important voices, he considered journalism within, about and for the region to be vital, the special rapporteur states.

 

The report says Khashoggi thought he was safe in Turkey and had resisted calls from the kingdom to return to Saudi Arabia from the US, where he had been in self-imposed exile since September 2017.

The special rapporteur’s report sets out how Saudi Arabia initially and repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in the murder of Khashoggi, and that the idea that it might have been conducted by “rogue killers” first came from a tweet from the US president, Donald Trump on 15 October.

The Saudis officially offered this version of the killing on 21 October, the report notes.

While some suspects are facing trial in Saudi Arabia, the report says the process has been secretive and should be stopped.

It also addresses whether the crown prince and his trusted aide, Saud al-Qahtani, should face further scrutiny. Qahtani has repeatedly been described as the mastermind of the plot to kill Khashoggi and was initially among the suspects identified by Saudi Arabia.

But the UN report says he has not been criminally charged, unlike some others.

While the special rapporteur says “no conclusion is made as to guilt” on either Qahtani or the crown prince, she adds: “There is credible evidence meriting further investigation, by a proper authority, as to whether the threshold of criminal responsibility has been met.”

The report adds: “Mr Khashoggi’s execution is emblematic of a global pattern of targeted killing of, and threats against, journalists and media workers that is regularly denounced by states, UN agencies, special procedures, and by numerous international and national human rights organisations.”

On Sunday, the crown prince described the murder of Khashoggi as a “very painful crime”.

In an interview with the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, he said: “Those accused of carrying out the crime are government officials.”

He said the kingdom was seeking to “achieve full justice and accountability, without getting distracted by positions taken by some for their own domestic considerations that are known to everyone.

“Any party exploiting the case politically should stop doing so, and present evidence to the [Saudi] court, which will contribute in achieving justice,” he added, without directly naming Turkey.

Edited by Buce
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Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Bobby Hundreds said:

Quite enjoyed Boris playing the Muslim great-grandfather card, must've turned half the Tory membership a lovely colour of puce.

 

 

 

 

Oh, now, Bobby....I've shown so much restraint for so long and now you've gone and tempted me into sin!

 

OK, here's Boris again, a few years back, calling for Muslim Turkey to join an expanded European Union.... lol

 

 

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Parafox

Parafox

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, String fellow said:

Imo, such programmes are as much about style as substance, and who looks the most prime-ministerial. For example, last night, Rory Stewart started off looking into the wrong camera. Then his tie mysteriously disappeared and his head was down too much when not involved in the discussion, both implying furtiveness. Also, his voice was squeaky and he insisted on finishing every long-winded sentence he'd started. All these factors could cost him the top job, regardless of what his policies are.
 

Also, he looks like a human incarnation of Kermit the Frog.

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Parafox

Parafox

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Posted (edited)
20 hours ago, MattP said:

The BBC have Andrew Neil, John Humpreys and Andrew Marr available to do this yet because of the obsession with diversity we end up with Emily Maitlis hosting it, pathetic. 

And to think, there was talk of Maitlis taking over Question Time. She tried to be confrontational and draw some controversy from the 5 bumbling fools in front of her. Even they were too savvy to take the bait she kept trying to throw.

Also, did any of them manage to directly answer a question put to them?

Waffle, lip service and patronising platitudes. All full of self aggrandisement and I wouldn't care for any of them as a PM. That said, what's the alternative? Corbyn's Venezuelan socialism? God, what a choice.

Edited by Parafox
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Grebfromgrebland

Grebfromgrebland

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, Buce said:

And still we cozy up to this vile regime:

‘Credible evidence’ Saudi crown prince liable for Khashoggi killing – UN report

 

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia should be investigated over the murder of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi because there is “credible evidence” that he and other senior officials are liable for the killing, according to a damning and forensic UN report.

In an excoriating 100-page analysis published on Wednesday of what happened to Khashoggi last October, Agnes Callamard, the UN’s special rapporteur, says the death of the journalist was “an international crime”.

“It is the conclusion of the special rapporteur that Mr Khashoggi has been the victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution, an extrajudicial killing for which the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible under international human rights law,” she says.

 

Using recordings of conversations from inside the Istanbul consulate where Khashoggi was killed, her report pieces together his last moments, and how he was confronted by Saudi officials, one of whom said: “We are coming to get you.”

When Khashoggi refused to cooperate, a struggle can be heard, including heavy panting. The special rapporteur’s report concludes: “Assessments of the recordings by intelligence officers in Turkey and other countries suggest that Mr Khashoggi could have been injected with a sedative and then suffocated using a plastic bag.”

The report highlights how critics of the kingdom are deliberately targeted, and comes amid a number of claims that Saudi Arabia has been using sophisticated surveillance spyware to hack the phones of journalists and academics.

The Guardian can now reveal it has been warned that its journalists have been targeted by a hacking unit inside Saudi Arabia.

Despite repeated requests to the Saudi authorities to address the claims, and to provide reassurance that no such operation is under way, the kingdom has refused to do so.

The UN report’s findings will heap pressure on the kingdom, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has repeatedly been urged to explain what he knew about the murder of Khashoggi.

The kingdom initially denied any involvement, and then described it as a rogue operation that the heir to the throne knew nothing about.

That is not the view of the special rapporteur’s report. Its main findings include:

• There is credible evidence, warranting further investigation, of high-level Saudi officials’ individual liability, including the crown prince’s.

• Khashoggi’s death was an extrajudicial killing. His attempted kidnapping would constitute a violation under international human rights law … and may constitute an act of torture under the terms of the convention against torture.

• The investigations conducted by Saudi Arabia and Turkey failed to meet international standards regarding the investigation into unlawful deaths.

• The Saudi investigation into the murder was not conducted in good faith, and might amount to obstructing justice.

The report demands that the trial of the 11 suspects in Saudi Arabia be suspended amid concerns about secrecy over the proceedings and lack of credibility.

It states: “Some eight months after the execution of Mr Khashoggi, the determination and assignment of individual responsibilities remain clouded in secrecy and lack of due process.”

It adds: “To date the Saudi state has failed to offer public recognition of its responsibility for the killing of Mr Khashoggi, and it has failed to offer an apology to Mr Khashoggi’s family, friends and colleagues for his death and for the manner in which he was killed.

“The special rapporteur obtained information regarding a financial package offered to the children of Mr Jamal Khashoggi but it is questionable whether such a package amounts to compensation under international human rights law.”

Khashoggi, 59, was killed when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October last year. One of the Middle East’s most important voices, he considered journalism within, about and for the region to be vital, the special rapporteur states.

 

The report says Khashoggi thought he was safe in Turkey and had resisted calls from the kingdom to return to Saudi Arabia from the US, where he had been in self-imposed exile since September 2017.

The special rapporteur’s report sets out how Saudi Arabia initially and repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in the murder of Khashoggi, and that the idea that it might have been conducted by “rogue killers” first came from a tweet from the US president, Donald Trump on 15 October.

The Saudis officially offered this version of the killing on 21 October, the report notes.

While some suspects are facing trial in Saudi Arabia, the report says the process has been secretive and should be stopped.

It also addresses whether the crown prince and his trusted aide, Saud al-Qahtani, should face further scrutiny. Qahtani has repeatedly been described as the mastermind of the plot to kill Khashoggi and was initially among the suspects identified by Saudi Arabia.

But the UN report says he has not been criminally charged, unlike some others.

While the special rapporteur says “no conclusion is made as to guilt” on either Qahtani or the crown prince, she adds: “There is credible evidence meriting further investigation, by a proper authority, as to whether the threshold of criminal responsibility has been met.”

The report adds: “Mr Khashoggi’s execution is emblematic of a global pattern of targeted killing of, and threats against, journalists and media workers that is regularly denounced by states, UN agencies, special procedures, and by numerous international and national human rights organisations.”

On Sunday, the crown prince described the murder of Khashoggi as a “very painful crime”.

In an interview with the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, he said: “Those accused of carrying out the crime are government officials.”

He said the kingdom was seeking to “achieve full justice and accountability, without getting distracted by positions taken by some for their own domestic considerations that are known to everyone.

“Any party exploiting the case politically should stop doing so, and present evidence to the [Saudi] court, which will contribute in achieving justice,” he added, without directly naming Turkey.

Saudi money funds so much of the UK to the point that we're shit scared of upsetting them and will agree to anything they want even if we publicly condemn them.

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Buce

Buce

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6 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Saudi money funds so much of the UK to the point that we're shit scared of upsetting them and will agree to anything they want even if we publicly condemn them.

 

Saudi Arabia: State sponsers of terrorism. Appalling human rights record. Has capital punishment for homosexuality. Doesn't recognise Israel's right to exist - sell them arms.

 

Iran: State sponsers of terrorism. Appalling human rights record. Has capital punishment for homosexuality. Doesn't recognise Israel's right to exist - hit them with sanctions and prepare for war.

 

If Carlsberg did hypocrisy...

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The Guvnor

The Guvnor

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3 minutes ago, Buce said:

 

Saudi Arabia: State sponsers of terrorism. Appalling human rights record. Has capital punishment for homosexuality. Doesn't recognise Israel's right to exist - sell them arms.

 

Iran: State sponsers of terrorism. Appalling human rights record. Has capital punishment for homosexuality. Doesn't recognise Israel's right to exist - hit them with sanctions and prepare for war.

 

If Carlsberg did hypocrisy...

I see what you mean, we should be selling arms to Iran as well.

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Lionator

Lionator

Posted
Posted
53 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

I know a lot of Muslims and they would be hard pressed to condemn him. To your face they might but deep down they won't.

To be fair I think a lot of things deep down however like many of these muslim people that you claim to know, I'm a rational person who does the right thing based on the situation that I'm in. 

 

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David Guiza

David Guiza

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UK arms sales to the Saudis in Yemen deemed unlawful by the Court of Appeal https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-saudi-arabia-arms-sales-court-appeal-ruling-yemen-war-weapons-a8966731.html

 

Who would ever do such a thing... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/11/johnson-allowed-arms-sales-to-saudis-after-strike-on-food-factory

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Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/20/amber-rudd-challenge-boris-johnson-tactical-voting

 

"Amber Rudd has called on Boris Johnson to respond to concerns that his campaign is encouraging supporters to lend votes to Jeremy Hunt in an attempt to eliminate Michael Gove from the Conservative leadership race. The work and pensions secretary, who is backing Hunt to be the next prime minister, said rumours that Johnson’s campaign would use tactical voting to seek revenge on Gove for derailing his leadership campaign in 2016 were “discrediting” the system to select a party leader".

 

I assume Javid will be next man out at lunchtime, but hard to tell which of Hunt and Gove will go into the final runoff with Johnson. But cynicism and rumours like the above suggest that it'll be Hunt via tactical voting - not only because Boris' crew might want revenge on Gove, but because he'd probably be a trickier opponent at membership hustings. Easy for Team Boris to fix, surely - just tell 10 of their MPs to back Hunt in today's second ballot and it's bye-bye, Govey?

 

Could be like Germany v. Austria, World Cup 1982, all over again....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgrace_of_Gijón

 

Edited by Alf Bentley
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Buce

Buce

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/20/amber-rudd-challenge-boris-johnson-tactical-voting

 

"Amber Rudd has called on Boris Johnson to respond to concerns that his campaign is encouraging supporters to lend votes to Jeremy Hunt in an attempt to eliminate Michael Gove from the Conservative leadership race. The work and pensions secretary, who is backing Hunt to be the next prime minister, said rumours that Johnson’s campaign would use tactical voting to seek revenge on Gove for derailing his leadership campaign in 2016 were “discrediting” the system to select a party leader".

 

I assume Javid will be next man out at lunchtime, but hard to tell which of Hunt and Gove will go into the final runoff with Johnson. But cynicism and rumours like the above suggest that it'll be Hunt via tactical voting - not only because Boris' crew might want revenge on Gove, but because he'd probably be a trickier opponent at membership hustings. Easy for Team Boris for fix, surely - just tell 10 of their MPs to back Hunt in today's second ballot and it's bye-bye, Govey?

 

Could be like Germany v. Austria, World Cup 1982, all over again....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgrace_of_Gijón

 

 

I know we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but there is something altogether unwholesome about Gove's appearance.

 

I wouldn't feel comfortable letting him babysit my kids, for sure.

 

220px-Official_portrait_of_Michael_Gove_goveface_rljrhg.png

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAa9XN8IsyIaymQW3IxrL

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQY_6MuGL6wpyKT_pKSuFl

image.jpg

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