US Sanctions On 17 Saudis Over Khashoggi Murder Fail To Put Issue To Rest - Lawmakers

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) The Trump administration's decision to sanction 17 Saudis for their involvement in the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi is a welcome step, but Democrats in the US Congress warned in a series of statements that the list is far from conclusive and want answers on who ordered the killing.

"Until responsibility is confirmed, this matter is unresolved and deserves Congress's scrutiny," US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel said on Thursday. "Today's action does not put this issue to rest."

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen called for additional Saudis to be sanctioned.

"America's response to Khashoggi's murder has significant implications for our credibility around the globe, and there must be further sanctions on Saudi leadership who ordered this assassination," Shaheen said. "We must send a clear message that the United States stands unequivocally on the side of human rights and democratic values."

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer called the sanctions a "welcome step," but warned that serious changes are needed in the US-Saudi partnership to "move forward from this incident."

"These include: a truthful and accurate accounting of what happened to Mr.

Khashoggi, particularly given Saudi deception to date; a verifiable commitment by Saudi Arabia, along with its coalition partners, to end the disastrous war in Yemen expeditiously; an immediate clemency review for journalists, bloggers and civil society activists the Kingdom has detained; a contribution to regional peace efforts; and a change in Saudi behavior with regard to peaceful dissent by its citizens," Hoyer said.

Earlier on Thursday, the US imposed sanctions against 17 Saudi nationals who were allegedly involved in the killing, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's former senior aide Saud Al-Qahtani. The Treasury Department said that Qahtani took part in the planning and execution of Khashoggi's murder.

Bin Salman, the nation's de facto ruler who has been widely accused by human rights groups of ordering the hit, has denied any involvement and has taken control of an internal Saudi investigation of the murder.

Kashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2 after the arrival of a 15-member team of Saudi operatives, many with close ties to the crown prince.