Brussels, 16 October 2024
No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) calls on the Belgian government and judiciary to take decisive action and arrest Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) upon his arrival in Belgium to attend the first-ever EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. As a head of state implicated in serious human rights violations, including the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the ongoing suppression of political dissent in Saudi Arabia, MBS must face legal accountability.
“Belgium, having recently completed its presidency of the Council of the European Union with ‘rule of law’ as its hallmark slogan, now has the chance to reaffirm its commitment to these principles. The Belgian judiciary has an opportunity —and indeed the obligation— to demonstrate that its dedication to justice and human rights is more than rhetoric. Arresting MBS would send a powerful message to the international community that no individual, no matter their political or economic power, is immune from accountability” said Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice.
“Mohammed Bin Salman has been implicated in atrocities that cannot go unanswered. Allowing him to escape justice would not only demonstrate double standards and undermine the values Belgium has championed on the global stage but also embolden perpetrators of state-sanctioned violence around the world. We urge Belgian authorities to act in accordance with their legal obligations and arrest MBS, holding him accountable for his alleged crimes. Failure to do so would be an affront to the victims of his regime’s abuses, including the family of Jamal Khashoggi, whose brutal murder was condemned worldwide.” added Niccolò Figà-Talamanca.
NPWJ remains steadfast in its fight for human rights and accountability, and we will continue to push for legal action against those responsible for gross human rights abuses, regardless of their political power or influence.
For media inquiries, contact: press@npwj.org
