Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on Friday that allegations regarding the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi would be totally unacceptable if true but any response by Britain would be "considered".
"Part of our reaction will depend on the Saudi reaction, and whether we sense that they are taking it as seriously as we are taking it. But this is a very, very serious matter," Hunt told BBC radio.
"Our relationship with Saudi is a strategic relationship as well. Our response will be considered... (but) in the end, if these stories are true, we have to be absolutely clear, it would not be consistent with our values."
Turkish officials have said they believe Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Riyadh denies the allegations.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum said Thursday they will no longer use Saudi money to run programs that were initially supported by entities tied to the Saudi government, according to The New York Times.The two programs were a three-month-long exhibit on Syrian refugees at the Brooklyn Museum along with a seminar on Middle East art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, both part of a yearlong Arab Art Education Initiative.Recordings reveal Khashoggi tortured then dismembered while still alive“While this conversation and a subsequent public colloquium were to be supported by external funds, in light of recent developments, we have decided that the Museum will itself fund this event,” Daniel H. Weiss, the Met’s president and chief executive officer, said in a note to participants that was obtained by the Times.The programs were being organized by Stephen Stapleton, a London-based artist who runs an arts initiative called Edge of Arabia, which is supported by the Saudi government and funded through their state-run oil company Aramco.One of 15 Saudis that targeted Khashoggi dies in suspicious car accident“We are fully understanding and supportive of our partner organizations in the Arab Art Education Initiative when it comes to decisions around funding," Stapleton said in a statement.Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Evidence is mounting that the journalist was killed and dismembered by Saudi nationals who flew into Istanbul the same day.On Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.
New York museums to stop using Saudi money for programs
The family of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi considers him "missing" until given proof otherwise, U.S. broadcaster CNN reported Thursday.Motasem Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist’s cousin and the family’s spokesperson, told CNN in a statement that the family does not have "legal or official proof" of his death.Saying he believes the investigation will conclude quickly, Motasem called on the media to only use official sources on Jamal’s disappearance.He said Jamal represented his country, family and profession at the highest level, adding he was “never a dissident".Motasem added that the Khashoggi family has been in close contact with the Saudi government “at the highest level".Recordings reveal Khashoggi tortured then dismembered while still aliveJamal Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.On the same 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.On Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Saudi may blame adviser for Khashoggi killing: reportTrump says he believes Khashoggi is dead
Family of Saudi journalist considers him 'missing'
Saudi Arabia is considering putting the blame for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on an intelligence officer who is close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the New York Times reported Thursday.Sources told the Times rulers in the kingdom are planning to pin fault on Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, an adviser to the crown prince, in a move that could deflect fingers pointed at the 33-year-old aspirant."The Saudi rulers are expected to say that General Assiri received verbal authorization from Prince Mohammed to capture Mr. Khashoggi for an interrogation in Saudi Arabia, but either misunderstood his instructions or overstepped that authorization and took the dissident’s life," two people familiar with the plan told the Times on condition of anonymity.Trump says he believes Khashoggi is deadBin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, has been seen by many in the West as a reformer that has brought massive social change and progressive reform to the kingdom.However, his image has been tainted in recent weeks because of the global outcry over the missing journalist.Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Evidence is mounting that the journalist was killed and dismembered by Saudi nationals who flew into Istanbul that same day.Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul.France suspends political visits to Saudi ArabiaMeanwhile, a wave of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have taken a stand against Saudi Arabia, demanding answers on Khashoggi's disappearance.Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia unless Secretary of State Mike Pompeo certifies the kingdom did not order the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The bill currently has 8 cosponsors from both political parties.After returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, however, Pompeo said he advised U.S. President Donald Trump to give Saudi officials "a few more days" to continue the investigation.Aide to Prince Salman seen walking into Saudi consulateTrump, along with senior officials in the administration, have defended bin Salman, with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East advisor, telling the president to stand behind the crown prince, the newspaper reported.The Times said that Saudi had already briefed the U.S. on their plan, and people "close to the White House have already been briefed and given General Assiri’s name."Assiri was previously the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and had been promoted to a high ranking adviser last year.US lawmakers seek sanctions on Riyadh over KhashoggiSaudi response to Khashoggi case raises questionsPompeo heard recording of Khashoggi ‘murder': Report
Saudi may blame adviser for Khashoggi killing: report