The independent journalists association chairman has said the legal process should be free from "Saudi Arabia's bias".
he Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has called on the international community to monitor the legal process of the alleged murderers of the Washington Post's Jamal Khashoggi following Saudi Arabia's recent acknowledgment of the journalist's murder.
"Considering the scale of the case, the international community should take part in ensuring that the perpetrators are punished fairly and independently. The legal proceedings should be free from the bias of Saudi Arabia's national interests," AJI chairman Abdul Manan told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He said the case should be brought to an international court as Saudi Arabia, as an authoritarian state on its way to reform, would likely hide the truth, as well as the murder mastermind, considering that its national interests were at stake.
State-run media in Saudi Arabia acknowledged on Saturday that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been killed inside the country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, two weeks after his disappearance sparked a global furor.
The kingdom also announced the sacking of a top intelligence official, Ahmad al-Assiri, and royal court media advisor, Saud al-Qahtani, both top aides to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has faced mounting pressure over the Khashoggi affair.
"[Such an admission] was predicted as the evidence was too strong to be denied," Manan said. "This admission has again highlighted Saudi Arabia's brutal efforts to silent critics. This deserves strong condemnation from the international community." (evi)
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