Saudi FM rules out extraditing suspects in Khashoggi case

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Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Sunday ruled out the possibility of extraditing suspects in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi after Istanbul's chief prosecutor filed warrants for the arrest of two former senior Saudi officials.

Turkish officials said last week that the prosecutor's office had concluded there was "strong suspicion" that Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and General Ahmed al-Asiri, who served as deputy head of foreign intelligence, were among the planners of Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

"We don't extradite our citizens," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said when asked about the arrest warrants. He was speaking at a press conference at a Gulf Arab summit in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir speaks during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 15, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Last month, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned 17 Saudis, including Qahtani but not Asiri, for their role in Khashoggi's murder. And Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor was seeking the death penalty for five out of 11 suspects charged in the murder.

The Saudi public prosecutor has said the order to repatriate Khashoggi came from Asiri and that a travel ban has been imposed on Qahtani.

Jubeir declined to confirm or deny whether the men were currently detained, referring the question to the Saudi public prosecutor.

(Cover photo: A demonstrator holds a poster with a picture of late Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 25, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters