The request stipulates that the Ministry of Justice should be asked to express its opinion on transferring the trial to Saudi Arabia.
In the 117-page indictment prepared by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, Ahmed bin Muhammad al-Asiri and Saud al-Qahtani, who were tasked with carrying out the Khashoggi murder, and giving necessary instructions to the other defendants, are separately charged.
A second indictment was prepared by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, once morest 6 Saudi fugitives in connection with the Khashoggi murder.
The court approved the indictment that demanded severe life sentences for 2 of the defendants, and imprisonment for up to 5 years for four of them, bringing the number of defendants in the case to 26.
The killing of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul four years ago drew international condemnation and put pressure on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A US intelligence report revealed last year said that bin Salman had approved an operation to kill or capture Khashoggi. On the other hand, the Saudi government denied any involvement of the Crown Prince in the matter and rejected what was stated in the intelligence report.
The Turkish court also rejected earlier requests to include the report in the case files. In January of this year, Erdogan said he was considering a visit to Riyadh, as Turkey seeks to repair relations with Saudi Arabia.
Accordingly, Reporters Without Borders commented on the prosecutor’s request as “terrible news.”
The organization urged the Turkish Ministry of Justice to reject it, explaining that the postponement of the investigation into the murder appears to be aimed at achieving a “diplomatic rapprochement” between the two countries.
