CAIRO, Feb 28 (NNN-MENA) – Arab League (AL) Secretary General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s rejection of a recent U.S. intelligence report, on the murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, in 2018.
“Saudi judicial authorities are the only ones in charge of holding those involved in Khashoggi case accountable,” the AL chief said.
The 4-page report, released by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), indicates that, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, approved the operation in Istanbul, Turkey, “to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.”
Aboul-Gheit said that, the ODNI is not authorised to issue international rulings or verdicts.
“Human rights issues should not be politicised,” the AL secretary-general emphasised.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, strongly rejected the U.S. report, saying, it contained “inaccurate information and conclusions.”
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, in Oct, 2018, and a number of top Saudi officials were arrested in connection with the case.
In early Sept, 2020, Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution issued final verdicts against eight convicts in Khashoggi’s killing, five of whom were sentenced to 20 years in jail and the other three from seven to 10 years.– NNN-MENA