A/HRC/41/CRP.1 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.” 162 In addition, Saudi Arabia has also ratified the Convention Against Torture163. II. Analysis of the facts of the execution of Mr. Khashoggi 198. In analyzing the facts, the Special Rapporteur reviewed four potentially credible hypotheses related to the unlawful death of Mr. Khashoggi: 1) premeditated killing; 2) kidnapping with premeditated killing if kidnapping proved impossible or unsuccessful; 3) the result of an accident in the course of kidnapping; 4) a decision to kill on site by members of the Saudi team. From an international human rights law perspective, all four hypotheses would point to a crime constituting a serious human rights violation. She has reached the conclusion that either the first or second hypothesis are the most credible. The Planning of the Crime 199. The interception of Mr. Khashoggi was the result of a planned and elaborate mission involving extensive coordination and resources. Evidence from Canada shows that Mr. Khashoggi had been at least the indirect object of Saudi surveillance. The recordings of communications in the two days preceding the execution indicate that Mr. Khashoggi was known to be one of several individuals “being sought” by Saudi authorities. 164 When the opportunity arose165, an operation was launched in Riyadh, managed at high levels of the Saudi government. Turkish intercepts reveal the involvement of an employee (Mr. Mutreb) of a senior advisor within the Court, the Consul General and others. The logistics were complex, with Saudi officials making the practical arrangements including travel and accommodation. The operation involved multiple flights, including two private jets, one under diplomatic clearance. It entailed training, with two Saudi attachés from Istanbul flying to Riyadh for “top secret”, “urgent” training and preparation, and it required planning and execution in Istanbul. Deceptive countermeasures appear to have been taken, such as the suggestion that tickets should be booked for family members on the trip to Riyadh and the use of a tourism company to book Istanbul hotels with a “sea-view” for the team of Saudi officials.166 The fact that a team was put together and operational within 48 hours tends to point to a “Special Operation” scenario, with core team members already appointed and in place, ready to act whenever the order comes. Such a level of preparation is unlikely to have occurred otherwise.167 200. At the Consulate itself, further planning and preparation were required and undertaken. The first group of team members appears to have assessed the Consulate, the day before the killing, to determine the best way to proceed. An interrogation or disposal site was discussed that day. An attaché stationed in the Consulate went to the Belgrad Forest, possibly to assess a disposal site. On the day of the crime, the Consul General cleared the Consulate of most non-Saudi employees and ensured that any employees remaining at the Consulate stayed put in their offices. According to Turkish officials, consulate cameras were disabled, although one news organization reports that tapes from consulate cameras were instead deleted. 162 163 164 165 166 167 Arab Charter on Human Rights, Preamble. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/ SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1011&Lang=en Leaked reports suggest the existence of a Saudi “Rapid Intervention Group.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/17/world/middleeast/khashoggi-crown-prince-saudi.html The Special Rapporteur has been informed that Mr. Khashoggi attempted to obtain the needed marriage documents online and within the United States but was told he needed to obtain them in Turkey. The Saudi-owned al-Arabiya allegedly reported on October 2 that the members of the operations team were “tourists”. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-releases-passport-scansof-men-it-says-were-involved-in-journalists-killing/2018/10/16/f425892e-d163-11e8-83d6291fcead2ab1_story.html?utm_term=.0b142b25a131. Interviews 39