Saudi Resignations, Arrests In Khashoggi Probe Seek Protect Crown Prince - Rights Group

Sumaira FH Published October 22, 2018 | 08:54 PM

An internal Saudi investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey reflects an effort to protect Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged in a press release on Monday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd October, 2018) An internal Saudi investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey reflects an effort to protect Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged in a press release on Monday.

"Saudi Arabia's [latest] statement about Khashoggi's death appears to be designed to insulate Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman from further scrutiny and to prevent full accountability for Khashoggi's killing," the release said. "Demotions of senior officials as scapegoats will not remove the stench of Khashoggi's killing from Mohammad bin Salman."

HRW also repeated earlier calls for a United Nations or other independent international investigation of the October 2 death of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate of Istanbul.

The latest Saudi statement on the Khashoggi killing announced that the nation's top prosecutor had ordered the detention of 18 Saudi men who had traveled to Istanbul to "meet with" Khashoggi, the release noted.

The statement also accused the men of attempting to "cover up" the killing.

Saudi Arabia has also announced the formation of a ministerial committee to "restructure" the nation's intelligence agencies and has ordered the resignations of five high-ranking officials, the release added.

"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,'" HRW Deputy middle East Director Michael Page said in the release.

Turkey claims to have recordings and other video evidence indicating that that Khashoggi was tortured and killed by a team of at least 15 Saudis - many with close ties to the crown prince - who arrived and later departed the consulate on the day of the killing.