U.S. State Department announces 'Khashoggi ban' for individuals who target dissidents

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinkentodayannounced a new visa restriction policyaimed at those suspected ofsuppressing, harassing orspying onpoliticaldissidents abroad.

The announcement comes the same day the U.S.government released an unclassified report onthe 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi a report which implicated Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman.

The policy, which Blinken referred to in his statement as the "Khashoggi ban," would enable the State Department to "impose visa restrictions on individuals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including those that suppress, harass, surveil, threatenor harm journalists, activistsor other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work."

The statement added that the U.S. government has begun alreadyto impose these restrictions on76 Saudi individuals alleged to haveengaged in"counter-dissident" activities, "including but not limited to the Khashoggi killing."

Khashoggi was a permanent resident of the United States and a columnist for the Washington Post at the time of his murder. Hewas brutallykilled at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, after he entered to get documents for his upcoming marriage.

"We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi," the report's executive summary reads.

"While the United States remains invested in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, President [Joe] Biden has made clear that partnership must reflect U.S. values," Blinken said in the statement.

"To that end, we have made absolutely clear that extraterritorial threats and assaults by Saudi Arabia against activists, dissidentsand journalists must end.They will not be tolerated by the United States."

In an interview withCBCchief political correspondentRosemary Barton Thursday, Blinkenreferred toSaudi Arabia asan "important partner" of the United States.

Askedhowthe Khashoggi report would influence Washington's policy with Riyadh,Blinkensaid that "Saudi Arabia remains an important partner for the United States on a whole host of issues."

"But we want to make sure that that partnership is clearly advancing our interests and reflects our values."

Blinken said he would "let the report speak for itself."

Broader push for accountability

Saudi Arabia hasclaimedKhashoggi's death was the result of a "rogue" extraditionoperation gone awry and has denied the crown prince was involved.

News of the U.S. intelligence report and its findings were reportedback in 2018 but the report was not madepublic.

A leading UN expert says the international community needs to take steps against Saudi Arabia's powerful prince.

Agns Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, told CBC Power & Politics host Vassy Kapelosthat there should be consequences for the crown prince.

WATCH |UN special rapporteur talks about Khashoggi case:

UN special rapporteur on the Khashoggi report

4 years ago

Duration 3:02

UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard says, "once the DNI report is out with what I hope to be clear evidence of his culpability, it is going to be very difficult for the U.S. and like minded states to continue ignoring that they are dealing with a calculated killer."

"Targeted sanctions against his assets abroad is an important step towards holding him to account. It should not be just that," she said."I think that we should take steps as an international community to banish him to the extent possible from international gathering or from some international gathering.

"In my view, that's a first action in the in the direction of accountability."

Late Friday, after meeting with Blinken, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau said that Canadianlight armoured vehicles will continue tobeshipped to Saudi Arabia but that could change going forward.

"We've been very clear that we've acceded to the arms trade treaty and that the decisions by Canada with respect to trade in arms is very much based on human rights considerations," Garneau said.

"I will not hesitate as minister of foreign affairs to put a stop to any existing arms permits if there is any hint that human rights are being violated. That is Canada's position and we will continue to be very mindful of that in any arms trade exports that are from Canada."