A Saudi Arabian court on Monday sentenced five people to death for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last year by a team of Saudi agents.
You see that, liberals? Donald Trump didn’t do that either. #SMH
According to the public prosecutor three others were convicted and given prison sentences totaling 24 years.
The kingdom held the trials in almost total secrecy, as Mohammed bin Salman, the 34-year-old crown prince, received a slew of international criticism for the murder, since several Saudi agents who were involved had worked directly for him.
And though Salman’s former top adviser, Saud al-Qahtani, has been sanctioned by the United States for his alleged role in the assassination operation, the Saudi Attorney General’s own investigation shows al-Qahtani was not involved.
The court also ruled that the then Saudi consul-general in Istanbul, Mohammed al-Otaibi, was not guilty. He was subsequently released from prison after the verdicts were announced, according to State TV.
From Fox News:
After holding nine sessions, the trial concluded that there was no previous intent by those found guilty to murder, according to state TV.
The verdicts were read by Shaalan al-Shaalan, a spokesperson from the attorney general’s office, and broadcast on state TV. No names were given for those found guilty. The attorney general’s office also said it is looking into the verdicts, which were issued by Riyadh’s criminal court, to see whether to move ahead in the appellate court.
The three suspects in the case who face prison time were sentenced to a total of 24 years, but no individual breakdown for each person was given. Another three who were on trial were released after being found not guilty, and several others who were investigated were also released.
The killing sent shock waves throughout the world and drew condemnation from the international community, including the United Nations. American liberals immediately blamed Donald Trump, because he didn’t go into Saudi Arabia and personally punch the crown prince in the face. In fact, it was odd that American liberals expected the American government to get involved in the murder of a non-citizen, simply because he wrote for a leftist rag that is best suited for the bottom of a dirty birdcage.
Khashoggi had entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that day in October 2018 to retrieve documents that would allow him to get married to his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside for him. Unfortunately, she never saw him again, and Khashoggi’s body was never found.
President Trump condemned the killing, and his administration sanctioned 17 Saudis suspected of being involved, though not the crown prince. Trump resisted calls by members of Congress, including some in his own party, for a stronger response, but what else could an American president do for the case of a non-citizen being murdered in another country? Trump has defended maintaining good relations with Saudi Arabia, framing its importance as a major buyer of US military equipment and weapons and saying this creates American jobs.
