A Turkish prosecutor asks the court to drop the case surrounding the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and hand it over to the Saudi authorities. The case against 26 Saudi suspects is being heard in absentia in Istanbul.

 

The prosecution argues that the case can be suspended because the suspects are foreigners, no arrests can be made, and no statements can be taken from the suspects. The court will consult the Ministry of Justice about this.

Khashoggi went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, to arrange papers for his upcoming wedding, but did not come out again. Turkish officials believe his body was removed from the consulate in pieces. His remains have not been found.

A Saudi court in 2020 sentenced eight people to prison terms ranging from seven to 20 years for the murder. However, Turkey decided to start its own lawsuit due to dissatisfaction with the process. The request to transfer the case comes when Turkey is trying to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia. The next hearing in the trial is on April 7.

Khashoggi was a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to US intelligence services, the crown prince had authorized and probably ordered the assassination. Bin Salman denies involvement in the death of the journalist who wrote for the American newspaper The Washington Post.