UN wants Turkey, Saudi Arabia to investigate disappearance of Washington Post columnist

The United Nations (U.N.) on Tuesday called on Turkey and Saudi Arabia to investigate the disappearance of prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi.

“Yes, this is of serious concern, the apparent enforced disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul,” U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said at a Geneva news briefing, according to Reuters.

{mosads}“If reports of his death and the extraordinary circumstances leading up to it are confirmed, this is truly shocking,” she added.

Khashoggi, an opinion writer for The Washington Post, was known for his critical views on Riyadh. He had recently left his country, citing concerns over Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on free speech.

Last week, he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he intended to obtain a document necessary to marry his fiancee. He reportedly never left, and Turkish sources later told Reuters that he had been killed inside the consulate.

Saudi Arabia has claimed that Khashoggi did indeed leave the consulate, a claim that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday asked Riyadh to prove. 

Members of the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill have expressed deep concern over the incident. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also called for Saudi Arabia to back a “thorough investigation” into Khashoggi’s disappearance.

“We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation,” Pompeo said in a statement. 

President Trump has also expressed concern over the incident. Khashoggi is a U.S. resident.

“I am concerned about that,” Trump told reporters Monday. “I don’t like hearing about it and hopefully that will sort itself out. Right now, nobody knows anything about it.” 

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Monday he brought up concerns surrounding Khashoggi’s fate with the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.

“Our thoughts are with #JamalKhashoggi’s family and colleagues at the @washingtonpost. I have raised Jamal’s disappearance personally with the Saudi ambassador, and while we await more information, know we will respond accordingly to any state that targets journalists abroad,” he tweeted.

Our thoughts are with #JamalKhashoggi’s family and colleagues at the @washingtonpost. I have raised Jamal’s disappearance personally with the Saudi ambassador, and while we await more information, know we will respond accordingly to any state that targets journalists abroad.

— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 8, 2018

Saudi Arabia is one of Washington’s closest allies in the Middle East, and some Republicans have questioned if the incident could strain the two countries’ ties. 

“We agree if there was any truth to the allegations of wrongdoing by the Saudi government it would be devastating to the US-Saudi relationship and there will be a heavy price to be paid — economically and otherwise … Our country’s values should be and must be a cornerstone of our foreign policy with foes and allies alike,” Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted Monday.

We agree if there was any truth to the allegations of wrongdoing by the Saudi government it would be devastating to the US-Saudi relationship and there will be a heavy price to be paid — economically and otherwise.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 8, 2018