Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidency Slam Khashoggi Verdict

* Photo: AA - Archive

Click to read the article in Turkish

Shortly after the Public Prosecutor's Office of Saudi Arabia has announced that five people have been sentenced to death and three people have been sentenced to 24 years in prison in the lawsuit filed into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency of Turkey have denounced the verdict.

While Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy has indicated that "the ruling falls short of the expectations", Communications Director of the Presidency Fahrettin Altun has tweeted, "Those who dispatched a death squad to Istanbul on a private jet, signed Khashoggi's death warrant, disappeared the slain journalist's body and sought to sweep this murder under the rug have been granted immunity."

Ministry: Important aspects remain in dark

Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry Aksoy has issued the following statement about the verdict on the official website of the ministry:

"The ruling of the relevant court in Saudi Arabia announced today on the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi falls short of the expectations of Turkey and the international community for the clarification of all aspects of this murder and the serving of justice.

"The fact that important aspects such as the fate of Mr. Khashoggi's body, the masterminds of the murder and any local collaborators remain in the dark, is a fundamental lapse of justice and violates the principle of accountability.

"It is not only a judicial but also a conscientious responsibility and obligation that this murder, which was perpetrated in Turkish soil, is clarified and all those responsible, including its masterminds, are identified and held accountable.

"Taking this opportunity, we reiterate our expectation for judicial cooperation from the Saudi authorities on this issue."

Presidency: Murder swept under the rug

Communications Director of Presidency Altun has also tweeted:

"The Saudi court reached a scandalous verdict today after months of secret hearings on the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.

"Those who dispatched a death squad to Istanbul on a private jet, signed Khashoggi's death warrant, disappeared the slain journalist's body and sought to sweep this murder under the rug have been granted immunity.

"To claim that a handful of intelligence operatives committed this murder is to mock the world's intelligence — to say the least. Turkey will continue its efforts to shed light on this incident."

(EKN/SD)