The European Parliament called for a reduction in the level of representation at the G20 summit to be hosted by the Saudi capital Riyadh via video link on November 21-22.
Parliament issued a statement with this recommendation to the European Union and its member states, and said that its aim is "to avoid legalizing impunity for human rights violations and illegal and arbitrary detentions" in Saudi Arabia.
Parliament called in a letter to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to place human rights at the center of all discussions of the G20.
The two officials are scheduled to participate in the summit if they do not comply with the European Parliament’s recommendation.
The message urged that the summit event be used to demand the release of all prisoners of conscience and women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia, and for real accountability for those involved in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The recommendation of the European Parliament was adopted Thursday, a few days after the second anniversary of Khashoggi's assassination passed inside his country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.
Political message
The French Press Agency quoted a source in the European Parliament as saying that the recommendation sends a "clear political message."
The agency also quoted researcher Yasmine Farouk of the Carnegie Center as saying that a weak European presence at the summit will cause embarrassment to the Kingdom as it organizes "the most prominent event of Saudi diplomacy."
Previously, mayors of large cities such as New York and Paris boycotted, due to human rights issues, a hypothetical summit related to the work of the G20 organized by Riyadh a few days ago.