In response to the reports that Journalist Jamal Khashoggi died after a fight in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, PEN America Senior Director of Free Expression Programs Summer Lopez released the following statement:
“The admission by Saudi authorities that Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in their custody plainly exposes all their previous claims about his fate as flagrant lies. It is absurd to entrust the investigation of Khashoggi’s murder to those most likely to have ordered it; Turkey should call on the UN Secretary General to authorize an independent, international investigation to expose the truth and lay the groundwork for holding those behind this grievous crime fully responsible. The Saudi regime must not be allowed to hide behind lies in order to literally get away with murder.”
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CONTACT: Anoosh Gasparian, External Relations Manager: [email protected]