THE gruesome 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate had shocked observers across the world. Once close to the corridors of power in Riyadh, Khashoggi had run afoul of the Saudi establishment — particularly the kingdom’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman — after his criticism of the rulers started appearing in leading Western publications. The 2018 hit was therefore widely seen as carried out on the orders of the Saudi leadership; American intelligence had said as much (Khashoggi was a legal permanent resident of the US) while after the murder, Turkish President Erdogan had asserted that the plot to kill the journalist was linked to “the highest levels” of the Saudi government. Keeping all these developments in mind, Turkey’s decision to suspend the trial of 26 Saudis and transfer the case to the kingdom means that Khashoggi’s family may never get justice.

The Saudi justice system is notoriously opaque and the assumption that such a high-profile trial — in which the rulers are accused of masterminding a ghastly murder — will meet the requirements of due process is remote. A Saudi court had earlier announced jail terms for low-level operatives linked to the murder, though observers said that the trial lacked transparency. The sudden change of heart in Ankara may be linked to a desire by the Turkish leadership to improve ties with the Arab world, particularly Saudi Arabia. Turkey is facing major economic problems, and the decision to shift the trial may be a symbolic gesture designed to send the message that Ankara wants improved geopolitical and economic ties with Riyadh. However, political expediency should not interfere in the natural course of justice. As mentioned, it will be highly unlikely that the actual perpetrators will be punished in a trial conducted in Saudi courts. Moreover, the move sends a chilling message to dissidents and critics of the Saudi state that they are not safe anywhere, while the Turkish state has indicated that foreign relations take precedence over the delivery of justice.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2022