Around 36 countries including 28 members of the European Union (EU) has signed a statement on Thursday criticizing Saudi Arabia violation of human rights and human rights records at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
According to ANI news reports, the countries called on Saudi Arabia to quickly release ten imprisoned activists as well as start cooperating with the UN-led investigations into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate of Saudi in Istanbul on October 2 last year.
The unprecedented joint statement was also backed by Australia and Canada but however, not the United States. Harald Aspelund, Inceland’sambassador to EU in Geneva, read out the statement and said, “We are particularly concerned about the use of the counter-terrorism law and other national security provisions against individuals peacefully exercising their rights and freedoms.”
It called on Riyadh to “to disclose all information available” and start cooperating with the UN-led enquiry and probe into the killing of the journalist, which carries speculation that Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Khashoggi, which MBS denies any wrongdoing.
The statement further read, “The circumstances of Mr Khashoggi’s death reaffirm the need to protect journalists and to uphold the right to freedom of expression around the world. Investigations into the killing must be independent and transparent. Those responsible must be held to account. We call on Saudi Arabia to take meaningful steps to ensure that all members of the public, including human rights defenders and journalists, can freely and fully exercise their rights to freedoms of expression, opinion and association, including online, without fear of reprisals.”
This rebuke to Riyadh marked the first by the UN forum since it was established in 2006. The development came amid growing international concern over Saudi’s treatment of human rights and freedom of expression.