Global outrage mounts over killing
Rights group: Saudis have ‘repeatedly lied’
A human rights group urged the global community to reject Saudi Arabia’s “attempted whitewash” in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as international outrage over the killing intensified Monday.
Human Rights Watch rejected Saudi Arabia’s most recent explanation: that Khashoggi was killed when a brawl broke out at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
Michael Page, the group’s deputy Middle East director, accused President Donald Trump of providing the Saudis cover for their “ludicrous explanations and obvious attempts to cover up the truth” behind Khashoggi’s killing. The group called for a United Nations investigation.
“Given how often Saudi Arabia has repeatedly lied to the world about Khashoggi’s disappearance and killing, there’s no reason to take seriously the results of its ‘internal investigation,’ ” Page said.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency said King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who leads the Saudi government, called Khashoggi’s son to express their condolences. Salah Khashoggi “expressed his sincere thanks,” the agency said.
Surveillance video footage shows Khashoggi entering the consulate Oct. 2, but no video ever showed him
leaving. CNN on Monday published additional footage from that day revealing what a senior Turkish official described as a Saudi operative similar in appearance to Khashoggi.
The operative, whom the Turkish official alleges was a body double, is seen leaving the consulate by the back door, dressed like Khashoggi and wearing what appears to be a fake beard and glasses. The same man was later seen around the city.
The senior official says the man was part of a cover-up to make it appear that Khashoggi left the consulate alive. USA TODAY has viewed some of the footage but cannot verify what is shown.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would reveal details of Khashoggi’s slaying in a speech Tuesday before his parliament.
Khashoggi, a Saudi and contributor for The Washington Post, had drawn the ire of his government for repeated criticisms of the prince, of King Salman and of Saudi involvement in the war in Yemen. Khashoggi disappeared after entering the consulate to obtain documents in preparation for his marriage.
For weeks, Saudi Arabia denied any knowledge of Khashoggi’s fate, saying he had left the consulate shortly after entering.
Saudi officials finally acknowledged that Khashoggi died in the consulate but did not say what happened to his body. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel alJubeir called Khashoggi’s death a “huge and grave mistake” and promised that those responsible would be punished. He adamantly denied the Saudi leaders were involved.
“This is a terrible tragedy,” Jubeir told Fox News. “There obviously was a tremendous mistake made.”
Media reports have said Khashoggi was dismembered, a claim Jubeir said he could not confirm. He said 18 people had been arrested in connection with Khashoggi’s death. Jubeir said Saudi authorities have been working with Turkish investigators on the case.
Germany halted arms exports to the kingdom in the wake of the scandal, with Chancellor Angela Merkel saying Sunday night that such sales could not take place in “current circumstances.” France also called for an explanation of what happened to Khashoggi.
The U.S. is Saudi Arabia’s largest source of arms imports. Trump acknowledged “deception and ... lies” by the Saudis but told the Post he was unwilling to cancel a lucrative arms deal with the Saudis. The kingdom, Trump said, would simply make the purchase from Russia or China.
“Conducting business as usual with Saudi Arabia would give dictators across the globe the green light to murder critics with no accountability, as long as they have enough money to buy U.S. weapons,” said Page, of Human Rights Watch.