‘My son is innocent’

Saudi King defends Prince, hails his ‘just and equal’ Kingdom

KING Salman has backed his embattled son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and heaped praise on his judiciary, in his first public remarks since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi plunged the Kingdom into crisis.

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor last week exonerated the King’s son of involvement in the ”hit squad” murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The CIA has concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the killing. The Saudis deny that, while admitting 15 agents travelled to Turkey to try to bring Mr Khashoggi back.

The prosecutor has called for the death penalty against five men, announced indictments against 11, and said 21 individuals were in custody.

King Salman, 82, said yesterday in an address to the Shura Council advisory body: “The Kingdom was founded on Islamic principles of justice and equality, and we are proud of the efforts of the judiciary and the public prosecution.

“We ensure that this country will never deviate from implementing God’s law without discrimination,” he added, without directly addressing the murder of the Washington Post writer, a critic of the Kingdom.

In Saudi Arabia’s absolute monarchy, only the King has the authority to oust the Crown Prince, who has faced intense global criticism over the murder. But the King has repeatedly indicated he has no intention of sacking his son.

Saudi TV has reported that Prince Mohammed will attend the two-day Group of 20 summit in Argentina from November 30, where he will come face-to-face with world leaders including Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Erdogan claims the Khashoggi killing was ordered at “the highest levels” of the Saudi Government, and has pledged that no cover-up of the crime will be allowed.

But US President Donald Trump has refrained from blaming Prince Mohammed.