Khashoggi Murder: US Hits 17 Saudis With Sanctions

The United States on Thursday placed punishing economic
sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved in the murder of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi, including top aides of Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman.

The sanctions were declared after Riyadh’s public prosecutor
announced that five officials face a possible death sentence in the
case but exculpated the prince.

“The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the
abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who
targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in
the United States must face consequences for their actions,” said
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The sanctions came amid widespread anger among Saudi allies over
the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi on October 2 in the
Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Khashoggi, 59, was a veteran Saudi journalist who wrote for the
Washington Post and other international media. He had become one of
the leading public critics of Prince Mohammed, whose father is the
Saudi king.

The 17 included Saud Al-Qahtani and Maher Mutreb, key aides of
the powerful prince, and Mohammed Alotaibi, who was the consul
general in the Istanbul consulate when Khashoggi was murdered.

The US Treasury said Qahtani, Prince Mohammed’s long-time
right-hand man, “was part of the planning and execution of the
operation” to kill Khashoggi.

But it did not point any fingers at Prince Mohammed, who the
Saudi government has insisted did not order the killing.

The sanctions, which fall under the US Global Magnitsky Human
Rights Accountability Act, freeze any assets those blacklisted have
under US jurisdiction and forbid Americans and US companies from
doing business with them.

Under heavy pressure from the United States, Britain, France and
Turkey, Riyadh has admitted that Khashoggi was murdered in the
consulate and said it would punish those involved.

Earlier Thursday the state prosecutor’s office announced that 21
individuals had been taken into custody and charges set against 11
of them.

Five of them face possible execution for the murder, according
to the prosecutor.

Mnuchin said Washington would persist in pressuring Riyadh for
justice in the case.

“The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all
of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find
responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi’s fiancée,
children, and the family he leaves behind,” he said in a
statement.

“The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to
end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists.”

AFP