This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
On December 24, 2019, a Saudi court handed down a verdict in the high-profile murder case of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was killed in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Five unnamed individuals were sentenced to death, while three others received a total of 24 years in prison for their roles in the killing.
The verdict has been met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and governments around the world, who have accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to cover up the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the murder.
US State Department officials hailed the verdict as an "important step" in holding the perpetrators accountable, but Turkey condemned the outcome as a "scandalous" and "impunity" for those responsible.
UN special envoy Agnes Callamard called the verdict a "mockery" and said that the masterminds behind the killing had barely been touched by the investigation and trial.
Callamard also criticized the secrecy surrounding the proceedings and the refusal to name those found guilty, saying that true accountability requires the kingdom's government to take responsibility for the official act.
Even in the United States, the verdict was met with criticism from some lawmakers, who said that any serious improvement in the bilateral relationship requires justice and accountability.
