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Saudi Arabia sentences five to death for murder of Jamal Khashoggi Saudi Arabia sentences five to death for murder of Jamal Khashoggi
(32 minutes later)
Former royal adviser Saud al-Qahtani was investigated but released without being chargedFormer royal adviser Saud al-Qahtani was investigated but released without being charged
Saudi Arabia has sentenced five people to death for the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the country’s public prosecutor has said. Five men have been sentenced to death and another three face 24 years in prison for their roles in the gruesome murder of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last year, the Saudi public prosecutor’s office has said.
Shalaan al-Shalaan also said Saud al-Qahtani, a former high-profile adviser to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, was investigated but not charged and was released. Al-Qahtani has been sanctioned by the United States for his alleged role in the operation. All 11 people on trial were found guilty of the killing, which triggered the kingdom’s biggest diplomatic crisis since the 9/11 attacks as world leaders and business executives sought to distance themselves from Riyadh.
The murder of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, triggered Saudi Arabia’s biggest diplomatic crisis since the 9/11 attacks as world leaders and business executives sought to distance themselves from Riyadh. However, Saudi state television also reported the Saudi attorney general’s investigation showed that the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s former top adviser, Saud al-Qahtani, had no proven involvement in the killing, after being investigated and released without charge.
The CIA concluded that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, ordered Khashoggi’s assassination, according to a report by the Washington Post. The crown prince denies any involvement, but told US TV in September that he took “full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia”. Al-Qahtani has been sanctioned by the US for his alleged role in the operation.
Shalaan said a further three people in the case had been sentenced to jail terms totalling 24 years. All can appeal against the verdicts. The court also ruled that the Saudi consul-general in Istanbul at the time, Mohammed al-Otaibi, was not guilty. He was released from prison after the verdicts were announced.
Khashoggi was a US resident and critic of Prince Mohammed. He was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018, where he was to receive papers before his wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found. The murder of Khashoggi sullied the reputation of the newly appointed crown prince, whom the CIA concluded directly ordered Khashoggi’s assassination, according to a report in the Washington Post.
The court also ruled that the Saudi consul-general in Istanbul at the time, Mohammed al-Otaibi, was not guilty. He was released from prison after the verdicts were announced, according to state TV. Prince Mohammed has attempted to portray himself as a liberal reformer of the conservative country. The Saudi government denies the prince had knowledge of what it says was a rogue operation. The prince himself told US television in September that he took “full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia”.
After holding nine sessions, the trial concluded there was no previous intent by those found guilty to murder, according to state TV. After holding nine sessions, the trial concluded that there was no previous intent by those found guilty to murder, according to state television.
The trials of the accused were carried out in near-total secrecy, though a handful of diplomats, including from Turkey, as well as members of Khashoggi’s family, were allowed to attend the sessions. All 11 defendants may appeal against the verdicts, the deputy public prosecutor, Shalaan bin Rajih Shalaal, said.
US president Donald Trump condemned the killing, and his administration sanctioned 17 Saudis suspected of being involved, though not the crown prince. Trump, however, has steadfastly resisted calls by members of his own party for a tougher response and has defended maintaining good relations with Saudi Arabia, framing its importance as a major buyer of US military equipment and weapons and saying this creates American jobs. No other details were immediately given about the ruling in the highly secretive trial, which began in January. The identities of the men are unknown and UN investigators have been repeatedly barred from hearings, although a handful of diplomats, including from Turkey, as well as members of Khashoggi’s family, were allowed to attend the sessions.
Meanwhile, numerous critics of the Saudi crown prince remain imprisoned and face trial for their acts of dissent. Agnès Callamard, a UN special rapporteur who authored an inquiry into Khashoggi’s death, has previously said the search for justice must not be left to the Saudi judicial system, which is “so vulnerable to political interference”.
Dozens of high-profile critics of Prince Mohammed, including women’s rights campaigners, are in prison facing trial for treason.
Khashoggi, a US-based columnist for the Washington Post critical of the Saudi government, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October last year on a visit to pick up paperwork for his forthcoming marriage. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.
Saudi Arabia initially denied its officials were responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance, but as Turkish authorities continued to leak evidence of high-level involvement, the kingdom eventually admitted its agents carried out the killing, offering a series of contradictory explanations.
Donald Trump, whom has made Saudi Arabia the keystone of his Middle East policy, condemned the killing but has staunchly defended his ally, Prince Mohammed. His administration has sanctioned 17 Saudis suspected of being involved in Khashoggi’s death, though not the crown prince.
Trump has steadfastly resisted calls by congress and members of his own party for a tougher response, defending maintaining good relations with the kingdom because of its importance as a major trade and diplomatic ally.