Turkey Moves Trial of Suspects in Khashoggi Killing to Saudi Arabia
2022-04-08
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1A court in Turkey ruled Thursday to suspend the trial of 26 Saudis accused of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
2The case is being sent to Saudi Arabia raising fears that the suspects will not face punishment for the crime.
3Khashoggi was a writer and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
4He was killed on October 2, 2018, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
5He had gone into the diplomatic offices to get documents required for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. But he never left the building.
6Turkish officials alleged that Khashoggi was killed and then cut into pieces inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents.
7The group included security officers and individuals who worked for the crown prince.
8Khashoggi's body has not been found.
9The Turkish court decided to send the trial to Saudi Arabia although human rights groups warn that the Saudis will cover up the killing.
10The decision also comes as Turkey is trying to reduce tensions between the two countries.
11Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancée who was waiting outside the consulate on October 2, said she was surprised and saddened by the decision, calling it "political."
12She told Reuters, "Saudi Arabia is a country where we know there is no justice. No one expects a just decision there."
13Human rights supporters had also urged Turkey not to send the case to Saudi Arabia.
14They argued there would be no justice for Khashoggi in Saudi courts.
15Emma Sinclair-Webb is the director for the New York-based Human Rights Watch for Turkey.
16She told The Associated Press that the decision "opens the way for other countries to commit assassinations on Turkish territory and get away with it."
17The Saudi government did not immediately answer requests for comment.
18At the time of the incident, Turkey had a sound recording of the actions inside the consulate and shared the evidence with the world.
19In December 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said Turkey would not hand over evidence to the Saudis because they could destroy it.
20"They think the world is dumb. This nation isn't dumb and it knows how to hold people accountable," Erdogan said at the time.
21A U.S. intelligence report released last year said Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation to kill or capture Khashoggi.
22But the Saudi government denied any involvement by the crown prince and rejected the report's findings.
23Turkey started the trial in absentia against the 26 Saudi suspects, including two former aides of the prince in 2020.
24Saudi Arabia had rejected requests that they be sent out of the country to face trial.
25Some of the men involved were put on trial hidden from the public in Riyadh.
26A Saudi court then sentenced five mid-level officials and individuals to 20-year prison terms.
27At first, the Saudi court had ordered the death penalty.
28But it reduced the punishment after Khashoggi's son Salah, announced that he forgave the defendants.
29Three others were sentenced to shorter jail terms.
30I'm Jill Robbins.
1A court in Turkey ruled Thursday to suspend the trial of 26 Saudis accused of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The case is being sent to Saudi Arabia raising fears that the suspects will not face punishment for the crime. 2Khashoggi was a writer and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He was killed on October 2, 2018, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. He had gone into the diplomatic offices to get documents required for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. But he never left the building. 3Turkish officials alleged that Khashoggi was killed and then cut into pieces inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents. The group included security officers and individuals who worked for the crown prince. Khashoggi's body has not been found. 4The Turkish court decided to send the trial to Saudi Arabia although human rights groups warn that the Saudis will cover up the killing. The decision also comes as Turkey is trying to reduce tensions between the two countries. 5Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancée who was waiting outside the consulate on October 2, said she was surprised and saddened by the decision, calling it "political." She told Reuters, "Saudi Arabia is a country where we know there is no justice. No one expects a just decision there." 6Human rights supporters had also urged Turkey not to send the case to Saudi Arabia. They argued there would be no justice for Khashoggi in Saudi courts. 7Emma Sinclair-Webb is the director for the New York-based Human Rights Watch for Turkey. She told The Associated Press that the decision "opens the way for other countries to commit assassinations on Turkish territory and get away with it." 8The Saudi government did not immediately answer requests for comment. 9At the time of the incident, Turkey had a sound recording of the actions inside the consulate and shared the evidence with the world. 10In December 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said Turkey would not hand over evidence to the Saudis because they could destroy it. "They think the world is dumb. This nation isn't dumb and it knows how to hold people accountable," Erdogan said at the time. 11A U.S. intelligence report released last year said Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation to kill or capture Khashoggi. But the Saudi government denied any involvement by the crown prince and rejected the report's findings. 12Turkey started the trial in absentia against the 26 Saudi suspects, including two former aides of the prince in 2020. Saudi Arabia had rejected requests that they be sent out of the country to face trial. 13Some of the men involved were put on trial hidden from the public in Riyadh. A Saudi court then sentenced five mid-level officials and individuals to 20-year prison terms. 14At first, the Saudi court had ordered the death penalty. But it reduced the punishment after Khashoggi's son Salah, announced that he forgave the defendants. Three others were sentenced to shorter jail terms. 15I'm Jill Robbins. 16Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English from reports by The Associated Press and Reuters. 17______________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19alleged -adj. accused of having done something wrong or illegal but not yet proven guilty 20fiancée -n. a woman that a man is engaged to be married to 21in absentia -adv. (legal) without being present 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.