Dozens sanctioned for human rights abuses

UK becomes first nation to punish three Saudi officials linked to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

THE UK has used its first “Magnitskystyle” powers to punish three Saudi officials implicated in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi who have faced no sanctions from other nations.

Those implicated in the death of the journalist in Istanbul will receive travel bans and have their assets frozen, as Dominic Raab warned that Britain would seize the “blood-drenched, illgotten gains” of those who abuse human rights.

The most senior official to be sanctioned for the first time is Ahmed Hassan Mohammed al-asiri, who held the post of deputy head of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence service.

The Foreign Office identified him as “a senior official involved in commissioning the 15-man team sent to Turkey to kill Jamal Khashoggi”.

He is currently being tried in absentia in Turkey for instigating “premeditated murder with monstrous intent” alongside former royal court adviser Saud al-qahtani.

Also sanctioned for the first time are two former workers at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul: Mufleh al-musleh, who is believed to have provided support to the team sent to kill the columnist, and Ahmad Abdullah al-muzaini, who the Foreign Office believe helped facilitate the killing. They are also suspects on trial in absentia for the killing.

Britain has sanctioned 20 Saudis involved in the murder that took place in Istanbul’s Saudi consulate in 2018, as well as 25 Russian nationals linked to the mistreatment of tax adviser Sergei Magnitsky.

In a Commons statement, the Foreign Secretary said that two senior Myanmar generals involved in the brutal suppression of the Muslim Rohingya population, and two organisations linked with North Korea’s gulags would also be sanctioned.

In the past, the UK has almost always imposed sanctions collectively as a member of the UN or the EU. However, Mr Raab introduced a separate sanctions framework for Britain following its departure from the EU in January.

Announcing 49 individuals and organisations, Mr Raab said: “This Government and this House sends a very clear message on behalf of the British people that those with blood on their hands, the thugs of despots, the henchmen of dictators will not be free to waltz into this country to buy up property on the King’s Road, to do their Christmas shopping in Knightsbridge or frankly to siphon dirty money through British banks or other financial institutions.”

The Sanctions and Anti-money Laundering Act 2018 covers those involved in assassinations and extrajudicial killing, torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and those linked to slavery, servitude or forced labour. Mr Raab said that Government was looking at ways to expand the regime, with further sanctions expected.

Some Tory MPS questioned why there had been “silence” on violations in China. “There is no, as yet, announcement on any sanctions of those who are either exploiting or abusing illegal minorities in Xinjiang or indeed, repressing democracy activists in Hong Kong,” Tom Tugendhat, foreign affairs committee chairman, noted.

The Foreign Secretary said that he would “consider” such suggestions “very carefully based on the evidence”.

However, he said he did not want to “pre-empt what the next wave of designations will be”.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former party leader, suggested Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, should be sanctioned amid fears that a new national security law from Beijing could lead to human rights abuses.

Sir Iain asked the Foreign Secretary if he would be prepared to follow through with sanctions “no matter how high they go, even if that means starting with Carrie Lam, whose family, I understand, have the privilege of British passports?”

Mr Raab insisted the Government would proceed in a “rigorous way”.

Following the Commons announcement, Mr Raab met with the widow and son of Mr Magnitsky, who inspired the new sanctions regime.

The tax auditor died after 11 months of mistreatment in Russian police custody in 2009 after raising allegations of tax fraud by officials in Russia. Bill Browder, his friend and colleague who has led the campaign for justice over his death, also met with the Foreign Secretary.

Mr Browder said: “Once you get on to a sanctions list, you become a nonperson in the world of finance. You can’t do business with anybody.

“These are rich government officials who made their money through graft and theft and imprisonment.”