UNITED NATIONS: Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was the victim of a premeditated extrajudicial execution, for which the state of Saudi Arabia was responsible, said a United Nations expert in her report released on Wednesday.

The report by the Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial Executions, Agnes Calla­mard, called upon the UN secretary general, the Security Council and the Human Rights Council to conduct an international follow-up criminal investigation for the purpose of determining individual liability.

Ms Callamard concluded that since the murder violated several international laws, other states too had the right to investigate it.

The report cited six violations of international law — prohibitions against arbitrary deprivation of life, extra-territorial use of force, torture, enforced disappearance, the law that states use consular missions for official purposes only and to protect freedom of expression.

The UN team conducted a six-month investigation into Mr Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October.

“This report has shown that the execution of Mr Khashoggi constituted a violation of his right to life for which the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible,” Agnes Callamard wrote.

Ms Callamard concluded that the “killing was the result of elaborate planning involving extensive coordination and significant human and financial resour­ces. It was overseen, planned and endorsed by high-level officials. It was premeditated.”

The Special Rapporteur accused Saudi Arabia of violating its “procedural obligation to investigate Mr Khashoggi’s death”.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2019