Turkey pressures Saudi Arabia on Khashoggi’s body as prosecutor visits

Published October 30, 2018
Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecutor Sheikh Saud Al-Muajab leaves the courthouse after a meeting with Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor. — Photograph courtesy Anadolu
Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecutor Sheikh Saud Al-Muajab leaves the courthouse after a meeting with Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor. — Photograph courtesy Anadolu

ISTANBUL: Turkey on Monday cal­led on Saudi Arabia to reveal the “whole truth” about the murder of Jamal Kha­shoggi, as the whereabouts of the journalist’s body dominated a visit to the country by Riyadh’s top prosecutor.

Khashoggi’s death inside the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate has brought near unprecedented international scrutiny on Saudi Arabia, which is seeking to draw a line under the crisis as Western powers demand answers.

The head of the Saudi investigation, Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, who last week acknowledged that the killing was “premeditated” based on Turkish evidence, met with Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan for around 75 minutes on Monday, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Mojeb was then expected to inspect the Saudi consulate.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday said there was “an advantage in our prosecutors sharing information and working together”.

“The cooperation must continue, but it must not be drawn out or turned into a diversion. The investigation must be completed as soon as possible, so that the whole truth is revealed,” he told a press conference in Istanbul.

Asked about the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body, which remain a mystery nearly a month after his death, Cavusoglu said that “as those who committed the murder are in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia has a very large responsibility”. According to Turkey broadca­s­ter TRT, Mojeb asked Turkish inve­st­i­gators to hand over the full findings of their own probe, but the request was rejected.

TRT said the Turkish prosecutor then demanded Mojeb give up any information of the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body.

Saudi authorities have arrested 18 men over the murder, and Erdogan has requested the suspects be extradited for trial in Turkey. However Saudi For­eign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected the request.

Erdogan has also questio­ned why Saudi Arabia will not reveal the location of the body, as well as details of who carried out the hit.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...