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Saudi Crown Prince Distances Himself From Khashoggi Case, Calling It a ‘Heinous’ Killing Saudi Crown Prince Distances Himself From Khashoggi Case, Calling It a ‘Heinous’ Killing
(35 minutes later)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday decried the “heinous crime” committed against Jamal Khashoggi, the dissident journalist killed in Turkey by Saudi operatives. It was his most public attempt yet to separate himself from the suspected killers, who include some of the crown prince’s own aides. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday denounced the “heinous crime” committed against Jamal Khashoggi, the dissident journalist killed in Turkey by Saudi operatives. It was his most public attempt yet to separate himself from the men suspected of killing Mr. Khashoggi, who include some of the crown prince’s own aides.
The 33-year-old crown prince’s comments, made during a panel discussion at an opulent investor conference in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, came as the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Turkey continues to sour over the Oct. 2 killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and as economic and political ties with the West are increasingly at risk. The 33-year-old crown prince’s comments, made during a panel discussion at an opulent investor conference in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, came as the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Turkey soured further over the Oct. 2 killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and as Saudi Arabia’s economic and political ties with the West are increasingly at risk.
But Crown Prince Mohammed insisted that Turkey and Saudi Arabia were working together to bring those who committed the killing to justice. But Prince Mohammed insisted that Turkey and Saudi Arabia were working together to bring those who committed the killing to justice.
“The crime was really painful to all Saudis and I believe it is painful to every human in the world,” Crown Prince Mohammed said in Arabic, according to a simultaneous translation. “It is a heinous crime that cannot be justified.” “The crime was really painful to all Saudis and I believe it is painful to every human in the world,” he said in Arabic, according to a simultaneous translation. “It is a heinous crime that cannot be justified.”
Some of the crown prince’s close aides have been implicated by Turkish officials in the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, 59, a Washington Post columnist.Some of the crown prince’s close aides have been implicated by Turkish officials in the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, 59, a Washington Post columnist.
Western intelligence officials have said they would almost certainly not have acted without instructions from the crown prince, considered the de facto ruler of the country. Western intelligence officials have said the killers would almost certainly not have acted without instructions from the crown prince, considered the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi royal authorities insisted for weeks that Mr. Khashoggi had left the Istanbul consulate the same day he visited. It was only this past Saturday that the Saudis admitted he was killed inside the building, describing it as an accident.The Saudi royal authorities insisted for weeks that Mr. Khashoggi had left the Istanbul consulate the same day he visited. It was only this past Saturday that the Saudis admitted he was killed inside the building, describing it as an accident.
Turkish officials have said they have evidence that shows a team of Saudi assassins killed Mr. Khashoggi within minutes of his entry to the consulate, dismembered his body and then tried to cover it up — even using a Saudi agent who resembled Mr. Khashoggi to leave the consulate wearing the victim’s clothes.
Even President Trump, a close ally of the Saudi royal family, has said he is skeptical of the Saudi explanations for what happened and has called the cover-up “one of the worst.”
In a speech before Turkey’s Parliament on Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Saudi government of having planned the “savage murder,’’ and demanded punishment “to the highest levels.’’In a speech before Turkey’s Parliament on Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Saudi government of having planned the “savage murder,’’ and demanded punishment “to the highest levels.’’
Intrigue surrounding the prince’s appearance on a panel at the investment conference was amplified by a fellow panelist, Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon, who nearly a year ago was detained in Saudi Arabia, apparently on the orders of the crown prince.
The strange circumstances surrounding Mr. Hariri’s visit back then caused an international stir, but the two men appear to have made amends since Mr. Hariri’s release.
Mr. Hariri did not address the incident, instead focusing his remarks on the development of Lebanon’s economy. But Prince Mohammed sought to joke about it.
“His Excellency Prime Minister Saad is staying for two days in Saudi Arabia,” the crown prince said, “so I hope that rumors don’t start that he’s been kidnapped.”
Also on the panel, which was focused on economic development in the Middle East, was Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa of Bahrain, a close Saudi ally.
Prince Mohammed was feted with an ovation as he entered the ballroom at the Ritz Carlton hotel, where business leaders from around the world have converged to network and make deals — even though many canceled last week, citing the Khashoggi scandal.
The standing-room-only audience saluted the crown prince with their cellphones when he arrived, straining to capture the moment with pictures.
Throughout the day, bankers and business executives wondered whether the prince would actually make an appearance, which was added and then mysteriously disappeared from the conference’s online agenda.