clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Saudi FM: Khashoggi’s murder 'big mistake'

November 15, 2018 at 3:06 pm

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency]

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said today that his country considered last month’s murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a “crime” and a “big mistake”.

Speaking to reporters, Al-Jubeir said: “The politicisation of the issue has led to a fissure in the Islamic world. The [Saudi] kingdom, however, seeks the unity of the Islamic world.”

The Saudi FM added that there was “ongoing communication” with the Turkish authorities regarding the ongoing investigations.

The Saudi attorney-general was still awaiting more evidence, he said, adding: “There are still several unanswered questions.”

Earlier today, the Saudi Public Prosecution said the order to kill Khashoggi had come from the head of a team tasked by the Saudi leadership with negotiating with the journalist.

Turkey: Khashoggi’s body dissolved in acid

The statement comes amid western media reports that Khashoggi was murdered on the orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman.

Khashoggi, a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, was killed on 2 October inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After weeks of denying any involvement in the crime, Saudi Arabia later admitted that Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate but claimed the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of any plot to murder the journalist.