'Suspects detained in Khashoggi case will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia'

MANAMA / ISTANBUL

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said on Oct. 27 that suspects detained in the Jamal Khashoggi case will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. 

"The individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," Al-Jubeir told a regional defense forum in Bahrain.

Al-Jubeir's comments came after Turkey announced that it will officially demand from Saudi Arabia the extradition of 18 suspects in the killing of journalist  Khashoggi

In a statement, Turkish Justice Ministry said on Oct. 26 that Istanbul prosecutors have prepared a requisition for 18 suspects on charges of planned and deliberate murder with monstrosity and torture.

The ministry referred the extradition request for the suspects - all of whom are Saudi nationals - to Turkish Foreign Ministry, the statement said. 

Turkey’s Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül also told reporters that he expects that the extradition will be carried out as the murder occurred in Turkey.

“Turkish authorities are both determined and competent to shed light on this case,” Gül said.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After weeks of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi had died inside the consulate building.

Turkish police have been investigating the case, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said 18 people arrested in Saudi Arabia over the killing should be sent to Turkey to face the trial.

Meanwhile, Erdoğan discussed the murder of Khashoggi with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau via telephone on Oct. 26.

Erdogan and Trudeau stressed the need to shed light on the killing and the importance of punishing the culprits, said a source from Turkish presidency, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Both agreed “all aspects of the murder” must be made public so that the killers could be held accountable for the crime.

Trudeau said he might cut off any arms export permits that allow Canadian manufacturers of military equipment to ship their goods to Saudi Arabia.

The prime minister, however, did not say if he would stop the export of (CAN) $15 billion in armored vehicles to the Kingdom under a deal signed in 2014.

The deal was negotiated under the previous Stephen Harper Conservative government.

Khashoggi killing undermines regional stability: Mattis

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Oct. 27 that incidents like the killing of Khashoggi undermined Middle Eastern stability and that the United States would take additional measures against those responsible.

"With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly," Mattis said at the annual Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.

"Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," Mattis said. He did not mention de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name at any point.