Thirty-six nations issued a rare condemnation of Saudi Arabia at the UN Human Rights Council over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, marking a significant shift in international scrutiny of the kingdom.
The statement, delivered by Iceland on behalf of the group, emphasized the need for a prompt, independent, and transparent investigation into Khashoggi's murder. It called on Saudi authorities to fully disclose information about their internal probe and cooperate with UN inquiries.
Support for the statement came from EU members, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Human Rights Watch described the collective action as a historic moment, noting it was the first time the UN body had publicly addressed human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi's UN envoy in Geneva rejected the criticism, accusing states of interfering in domestic affairs under the guise of human rights advocacy. The kingdom initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi's fate before attributing the murder to rogue agents and charging 11 individuals in the case.
A UN special rapporteur, Agnes Callamard, is leading an independent inquiry into the killing, though advocates continue pressing for a formally mandated UN investigation.
