Turkish prosecutor seeks to halt trial of Saudi suspects in Khashoggi killing
A Turkish prosecutor asked a court on March 31 to halt the trial in absentia of Saudi suspects over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and transfer the case to Saudi authorities.
Reuters - Duvar English
A Turkish prosecutor asked a court on March 31 to halt the trial in absentia of Saudi suspects over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and transfer the case to Saudi authorities.
The court said it would ask for the Justice Ministry's opinion on the request. It set the next hearing for April 7.
Khashoggi was reported missing after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018.
Turkish authorities and investigators had said Khashoggi was interrogated inside the consulate before his body was dismembered. It is believed that his body was likely burned in a large oven at the Saudi consul general's residence.
First denying the allegations of murdering Khashoggi, the Saudi government later admitted to the killing. It said the murder was carried out by agents in a "rogue operation."
In 2020, Turkey began trying the suspects involved in the murder in absentia.
Relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia soured amid the case and Riyadh imposed an informal boycott of Turkish goods and shut Turkish schools in the country.