Khashoggi murder anniversary commemoration held in Istanbul
October 2, 2019
Various speakers addressed assembled crowds outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul; a minute's silence was held and a memorial stone was unveiled.
The UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, Agnes Callamard, spoke at the memorial, giving her opinion on Saudi Arabia's responsibility for the murder.
"No one should get away with murder. Not even a power as influential as Saudi Arabia should get away with murder, and then audaciously reply on the indifference of the world to provide them with cover. Justice must be served."
Callamard was responsible for the investigation into Khashoggi's murder. She previously told DW that the trial organized by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman "failed to meet international standards."
The murder remains unresolved one year since Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Turkey and never came out.
Read more: Jamal Khashoggi's murder unresolved, one year on
The journalist was allegedly killed and dismembered by a hit squad of 15 armed men sent from Riyadh.
'Rogue country'
Yemeni Nobel Peace prize laureate and revolutionary Tawakkol Karman also denounced Saudia Arabia in an angry speech at Wednesday's memorial ceremony.
"The same rogue country that killed Khashoggi is the same rogue country that destroyed Yemen," she said, referencing the ongoing conflict in the country.
Read more: Yemen's Houthi rebels: Who are they and what do they want?
She said that the event and the response by Saudia Arabia would "undermine all Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to promote himself as a global leader."
Body still missing
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of the Washington Post journalist, also spoke, calling for Khashoggi's body to be returned.
"I want to know what happened to his body," she said in her speech. "I want his friends to be released from jails. I want that those in power are held accountable for their actions."
"All the world's eyes are on the kingdom of Saudia Arabia, and this issue will follow them everywhere," she added.
She was joined on stage by the Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who told her "You are not alone. No one should should ever have to endure what you did."
UN efforts to investigate the murder have stalled in recent months and it is unknown whether anyone will ever face trial.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's claims that he seeks to modernize the absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws have faced redoubled skepticism since Khashoggi's murder.
ed/msh (dpa, Reuters)
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