German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday spoke critical of Saudi Arabia’s official explanation on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and demanded “full facts” be revealed.
“Nothing has been cleared up yet [on Khashoggi’s killing], of course we demand that they be cleared up,” Merkel said on Saturday, during a party conference in eastern Germany.
Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, with evidence mounting that he was killed.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
Separately, in a joint statement, Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas condemned the killing and said Riyadh’s explanation on circumstances of journalist Khashoggi’s death was not sufficient.
“We expect from Saudi Arabia to be transparent about the real circumstances for Khashoggi’s death and its background. Those responsible must be brought to justice,” they stressed.
Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday that 18 Saudi citizens have been arrested over possible role in the death of Khashoggi, and attempts to conceal and cover what happened.
The head of UNESCO on Saturday "firmly condemned" the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate."I firmly condemn the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi," UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement."The killing of Jamal Khashoggi reminds us of the need to fight for press freedom, which is essential to democracy. Accountability for these crimes is non-negotiable," Azoulay said.We want justice for Jamal Khashoggi, says head of Turkish-Arab Media AssociationAmnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi deathBahrain praises Saudi king's decisions: Al Arabiya TV"I urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this crime and bring its perpetrators to justice," she added.The statement also recalled the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists which UNESCO will mark on Nov. 2.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources.All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Saudi consulate employees in Istanbul give testimony at prosecutor's officeTurkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al JazeeraLost Saudi journo had urged Arab youth to fight tyranny
UNESCO chief condemns killing of Khashoggi
Texas Congressman Member of the House Foreign Affairs and House Intelligence Committees Joaquin Castro accused senior White House adviser Jared Kushner of organizing the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.“Jared Kushner may have, with U.S. intelligence, delivered a hit list, an enemies list, to the crown prince, to MBS, in Saudi Arabia and that the prince may have acted on that, and one of the people he took action against is Mr. Khashoggi,” Castro told CNN on Friday.“That needs to be investigated,” Castro added, stating that there were links between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia.To be clear, I did not intend to accuse @jaredkushner of orchestrating anything. Based on press reporting, I’m asking for Congress to open an investigation of whether any US Intelligence was shared with Saudi Arabia that led to political persecution or killing of #Khashoggi (1/7) https://t.co/31vUT7bEUc— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) 19 Ekim 2018 Castro later clarified his comments, tweeting: “To be clear, I did not intend to accuse @jaredkushner of orchestrating anything. Based on press reporting, I’m asking for Congress to open an investigation of whether any US Intelligence was shared with Saudi Arabia that led to political persecution or killing of #Khashoggi.”Castro’s comments were dubbed “slanderous” by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders..@JoaquinCastrotx’s allegation is an outrageous slanderous lie without a shred of proof, it’s reprehensible for a sitting Congressman and supposed “news” outlets to continue citing an article that used unnamed sources and was completely debunked.https://t.co/xf2Zhitg8B— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) 19 Ekim 2018 Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.We want justice for Jamal Khashoggi, says head of Turkish-Arab Media AssociationInvestigators likely to discover what happened to Khashoggi body 'before long'Turkey vows to reveal details of Khashoggi's killingBritain considering 'next steps' after Saudi Arabia admits journalist's deathTrump a reluctant critic of Saudi Arabia despite pressure to act
US congressman says Jared Kushner may have organized Khashoggi murder
Turan Kışlakçı, head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association (TAM), called for justice following Saudi Arabia’s admission that journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate“It’s not over yet. We invite the whole world to take action. We want justice for Jamal Khashoggi. We want Khashoggi’s murderers punished, and not just the 15 men responsible but also those who gave the order,” Kışlakçı said.“I am calling out to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Saudi’s people of reason using the 135th ayah of Surah Nisa: ‘O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted’,” he added.Amnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi deathKhashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.“I would like to thank those who have shown sensitivity and reevaluated their economic ties, and the government officials, businessmen and politicians who cancelled their participation in the Riyadh Economic Forum, but we owe the greatest thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who oversaw the situation with devotion and diplomacy,” Kışlakçı said.Many key speakers and partners pulled out from a major investment conference Saudi Arabia planned for later this month following the disappearance of Khashoggi.Bahrain praises Saudi king's decisions: Al Arabiya TVInvestigators likely to discover what happened to Khashoggi body 'before long'Turkey vows to reveal details of Khashoggi's killingEgypt commends 'decisive' and 'brave' actions by Saudi King over Khashoggi caseEuropean Parliament urges investigation on KhashoggiBritain considering 'next steps' after Saudi Arabia admits journalist's deathUAE voices support for Saudi king statement on journalist's death
We want justice for Jamal Khashoggi, says head of Turkish-Arab Media Association
Amnesty International said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia's explanation of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul appeared to be a whitewash of "an appalling assassination"."The investigation findings by the Saudi authorities claiming that Khashoggi died as a result of a 'fist-fight' inside the consulate are not trustworthy and marks an abysmal new low to Saudi Arabia's human rights record," Samah Hadid, the human rights group's Middle East director, said in a statement.It called on Saudi authorities to produce Khashoggi's body so that independent forensic experts could perform an autopsy. It also said the United Nations should investigate his death.As Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's powerUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi caseIndonesian journalists urge clarity on Khashoggi case"An independent investigation will be the only guarantee against what increasingly appears as a Saudi whitewash surrounding the circumstances of Khashoggi's murder or any attempts by other governments to sweep the issue under the carpet to preserve lucrative arms deals and other business ties with Riyadh," Hadid said.Saudi Arabia's claim that Khashoggi had died in a fight -- rather than was deliberately killed - was Riyadh's first acknowledgement of his death after two weeks of denials that it was involved in his disappearance."This appalling assassination within the grounds of the Consulate amounts to an extrajudicial execution," Amnesty said.Saudi consulate employees in Istanbul give testimony at prosecutor's officeTurkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al JazeeraLost Saudi journo had urged Arab youth to fight tyranny
Amnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi death
Turkish investigators are likely to find out what happened to the body of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi "before long", a senior Turkish official said on Saturday.The official, who declined to be identified, also told Reuters that Khashoggi's DNA samples were being obtained from Turkey.Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Khashoggi had died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate - Riyadh's first acknowledgement of his death after two weeks of denials that it was involved in his disappearance.Turkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al Jazeera"We'll find out what happened to the body before long," the senior official said. "The DNA is being procured from within Turkey. It seems there will be no need to ask Saudi Arabia at the moment."Khashoggi's killers may have dumped his remains in Belgrad Forest adjacent to Istanbul, and at a rural location near the city of Yalova, a 90-kme (55 mile) drive south of Istanbul, officials told Reuters on Thursday.Investigators were still focused on the Yalova and Belgrad Forest areas, and were looking at CCTV footage from near Belgrad Forest, the senior official said.Investigators were also still examining traffic records of every car that went in and out of the Saudi Consulate on Oct.2, the day Khashoggi entered the consulate, the senior official said. As Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's powerUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi caseIndonesian journalists urge clarity on Khashoggi case
Investigators likely to discover what happened to Khashoggi body 'before long'
Turkey will get to the bottom of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Omer Çelik said Saturday."Turkey will uncover whatever happened. No one should have doubts about that," Celik told reporters in Istanbul.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is determined to solve the case by all means, Çelik added.The AK Party official said Turkey will not blame anyone prior to completion of investigation, but nothing should be hidden.He added that many people in the world are following the issue with great interest and are praising the rigorous work of Turkish authorities.Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi prince behind Khashoggi murder: Ex-MI6 chiefUS 'saddened' over confirmed death of Saudi journalistUN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by Khashoggi’s deathSaudi Arabia sacks top officials over Khashoggi deathSaudi Arabia says Khashoggi died at Istanbul consulateTrump keen, Congress unswayed by Khashoggi explanation
Turkey vows to reveal details of Khashoggi's killing