SANAA, Dec. 10 (Saba) - Many economists have questioned the possibility of holding the G20 summit in Saudi Arabia on November 21st and 22nd because of its track record of crimes related to the aggression against Yemen and the arbitrary arrests of writers, journalists and social activists and its involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
From December 1, 2019, Saudi Arabia will begin its g20 presidency, which will continue "until the Leaders' Summit in Riyadh" next year.
The Saudi regime is leading the group amid a new wave of arbitrary arrests of many human rights activists, journalists, writers, politicians and scholars, and the egregious human rights violations just over a year after the horrific murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi." Inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and about five years of aggression and land, sea and air blockade on Yemen.
The Saudi aggression against Yemen was the worst humanitarian disaster of the 21st century, causing great suffering to the Yemeni people. Estimates of those killed in the Saudi aggression against Yemen range from 10,000 to more than 70,000, the majority of them Yemenis. Saudi-led airstrikes reportedly killed two-thirds of that number.
Un Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lucock said there are more than 30 battle fronts, more than 3.3 million people have been displaced from their areas, and 80 percent of the population needs assistance and protection, including 10 million who now depend on food aid.
The Saudi aggression against Yemen began on March 25, 2015 under the so-called Storm of Beams, changing the name on April 21, 2015 to "restore hope" and that nothing on the ground would change, whether in terms of the humanitarian and difficult conditions suffered by Yemenis.
UN human rights expert Agnes Callamard said she would ask the Canadian government to press for the 2020 G20 summit to be moved from Saudi Arabia to another location or boycott it altogether.
According to CBC Canada, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions called on world leaders to "move or boycott the summit in order to protest the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post.
"I will reach out to a number of governments regarding many of the recommendations they have made," Callamard said, adding that she plans to contact Canadian officials.
"The G20 meeting in Saudi Arabia next year is a slap in the face to all those who fought, some of whom have died, for accountability and the protection of human rights."
Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in October 2018 to extract papers that qualify him for marriage. He was then strangled and chopped up. Following his death, the Canadian government punished 17 Saudis in connection with the killing.
Last month, Kalamard submitted a report to the United Nations saying there was "credible evidence" linking the killing to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was not punished by Canada. "Saudi Arabia has not acknowledged its responsibility as a state in the killing of Khashoggi," she said.
"I think Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to host the G20 summit in November," Callamard said.
"Saudi Arabia is at the helm of the G20 amid a new wave of arbitrary arrests targeting peaceful critics, while many human rights defenders are behind bars, just over a year after the horrific murder of Jamal Khashoggi." Amnesty International's Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Maraif, said in a statement.
"World leaders and the G20 should press Prince Mohammed to guarantee all human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," she said.
Amnesty International has confirmed that the Saudi explanation for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, appears to be a cover-up for a horrific assassination and has urged the UN to conduct an independent investigation into the case.
The Saudi regime acknowledged the killing of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after he said earlier that Khashoggi had entered and left the consulate unharmed and had nothing to do with his disappearance.
The Saudi regime is expected to host world leaders at an international summit in Riyadh on November 21and 22, despite being criticized for its human rights record.
As part of the Saudi regime's efforts to improve its distorted image, it has moved toward swaying openness, especially by granting more rights to women, but has faced widespread international criticism for its security campaign against opponents and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its consulate in Istanbul last year.
Human rights groups have called on G20 member states to press Saudi Arabia for intensified security campaigns against dissidents, which have led to the imprisonment of a number of activists, journalists and political opponents.
Human rights defenders said Monday that Saudi authorities have arrested at least three academics, writers and activists in the latest in a series of security campaigns targeting intellectuals over the past two years.
Activists said some were later released, but the arrest of the liberals underscores what observers describe as increased repression and tyranny.
Eman.M
| more of (Reports) |