Turkish court rules to suspend the trial of 26 Saudis accused in the gruesome killing of Jamal Khashoggi and for the case to be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, walks towards waiting journalists outside the courthous in Istanbul on Thursday.ISTANBUL — A Turkish court ruled Thursday to suspend the trial in absentia of 26 Saudis accused in the gruesome killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for the case to be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
The Istanbul court’s decision comes despite warnings from human rights groups that turning the case over to the kingdom would lead to a cover up of the killing which has cast suspicion on the crown prince. Last week, the prosecutor in the case recommended that it be transferred to the kingdom, arguing that the trial in Turkey would remain inconclusive. Turkey’s justice minister supported the recommendation, adding that the trial in Turkey would resume if the Turkish court is not satisfied with the outcome of proceedings in the kingdom. It was not clear however, if Saudi Arabia, which has already put some of the defendants on trial behind closed doors, would open a new trial.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch said: “Given the complete lack of judicial independence in Saudi Arabia, the role of the Saudi government in Khashoggi’s killing, its past attempts at obstructing justice, and a criminal justice system that fails to satisfy basic standards of fairness, chances of a fair trial for the Khashoggi case in Saudi Arabia are close to nil.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkey Suspends Trial of Suspects in Khashoggi Killing, Sends Case to Saudi ArabiaThe Istanbul court's decision comes despite warnings from human rights groups that turning the case over to the kingdom would lead to a cover-up of the gruesome killing of the Washington Post columnist.
Read more »
Turkey transfers Khashoggi murder trial to Saudi Arabia in move that likely ends caseA Turkish court ruled Thursday that the trial in absentia of 26 suspects accused of murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi can be transferred to Saudi Arabia, in a move that could effectively end the case.
Read more »
Turkey suspends trial of Saudi suspects in Khashoggi killingA Turkish court ruled Thursday to suspend the trial in absentia of 26 Saudis accused in the gruesome killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for the case to be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
Read more »
Rights groups blast Turkey's 'appalling' decision to transfer Khashoggi murder trial to Saudi ArabiaFiancee of Saudi dissident brutally murdered in kingdom's consulate vows to appeal the move, which a defense lawyer called entrusting 'the lamb to the wolf.'
Read more »
Yemen president cedes powers to council as Saudi Arabia pushes to end warADEN (Reuters) -Yemen's president dismissed his controversial deputy on Thursday and delegated his own powers to a presidential council in a move backed by Saudi Arabia, removing some obstacles to U.N.-led efforts to revive negotiations to end the seven-year war. It also called for talks with the Iran-backed Houthis, de facto authorities in the north, who have been battling a Saudi-led coalition. In a major breakthrough, Yemen's warring sides agreed to a two-month truce that began on Saturday, the first since 2016.
Read more »