Norway’s representative to the Human Rights Council, Mr. Hans Brattskar, called on Saudi Arabia to allow freedom of opinion, expression, and assembly without fear of retaliatory prosecution.
In a speech at the HRC’s 43rd session, Brattskar noted that states continue to prosecute individuals who express their opinion, especially using the internet. He stressed that journalists are those most liable to prosecution because of expressing their opinion.
The international community has harshly and successively criticized Saudi Arabia for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A UN report also accused senior officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, of involvement in Khashoggi’s assassination, due to his opposing positions.