Call for wider look at murder

THE fiancée of Jamal Khashoggi has called for a wider international investigation to shed light on the journalist’s “barbaric” murder in 2018 inside Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.

“I call on the US director of national intelligence to publish their report on who’s responsible for Jamal’s murder,” Hatice Cengiz said.

“I also call on the UN to carry out an international investigation into the murder,” she said, adding that independent investigations so far had shown Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder.

“Not holding Jamal’s real killers accountable gives those officials a green light to continue the oppression of their people… and will be a major stain on the international community.”

Cengiz’s remarks followed a Turkish indictment yesterday which charged 20 suspects, including two former advisers to Mohammed, with Khashoggi’s killing.

The indictment by the Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office cited “evidence” from phone, travel and closed-circuit TV footage records and statements and more than 50 witnesses, including Cengiz.

The indictment accuses Ahmed al-Asiri, former deputy chief of the intelligence service, and Saud al-Qahtani, a former close adviser to Mohammed, of “instigating premeditated murder with monstrous intent.”

A total of 18 others are accused of carrying out Khashoggi’s killing with “monstrous intent and torture”. All of the 20 are sought for arrest. | dpa