United Nations urges US to ban surveillance equipment exports to Saudi Arabia

A United Nations human rights expert called on United States to consider halting sale of surveillance equipment to Saudi Arabia at a congressional hearing on Friday, September 11. 

UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard me comments in light of brutal assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. She furr ded that ban on export of surveillance equipment to Saudi Arabia should only be lifted if country showed a marked improvement in its human right track record.

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Investigation urged

In dition to a ban on export of equipment, UN Special Rapporteur told US House Intelligence Committee that an investigation was also required in order to reveal any kind of misuse of surveillance equipment sent to Saudi Arabia from US.

In October 2018, Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He was a vocal critic of Saudi royal family and while Riyh at first denied any kwledge of killing, Kingdom was later found to have played a significant role in his murder.

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Eight men convicted for killing Khashoggi

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have convicted eight men for Khashoggi's murder. sentences to guilty party were handed out on August 7. identities of those convicted for killing of dissident journalist has t been revealed. 

As per reports, 5 men were sentenced to 20 years in prison while 3 were sentenced to 10 years. Five of those convicted h originally been given death sentences but back in May, Khashoggi's sons ‘pardoned’ ir far’s killers and refore ir death sentence was rendered void.

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