The lawyers defending Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have told the Washington District Court that their client has become the prime minister of his country, he deserves immunity and his trial should be held in the case of Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancé, the late journalist. stoped.
And lawyers said on Monday that the crown prince’s appointment as prime minister last week guaranteed him immunity from prosecution.
The crown prince is facing a lawsuit in the United States over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Saudi agents killed Prince Mohammad Khashoggi in the consulate of his country in Istanbul in an operation that US intelligence services believe was ordered.
The Saudi crown prince has been the de facto ruler of this kingdom for several years. The prince rejected the order to kill Khashoggi.
Last week, his father, King Salman, appointed him prime minister by royal decree, and a Saudi official said at the time that this was in line with the responsibilities already assumed by the crown prince.
“The royal decree leaves no doubt that the crown is entitled to immunity by virtue of its position,” the crown’s lawyers said in a court filing seeking to overturn the case, citing other cases in which the United States has recognized it. does not leave Immunity of leaders of foreign countries
According to the American media, the judge of the Washington DC district court agreed to the request of the American government to give a deadline until November 17 to review its legal position regarding the granting of immunity to the Saudi crown prince after being appointed as the prime minister in his country. In the case filed by the fiancee Jamal, the late journalist Khashoggi in the US court.
Last July, the government tried to delay filing its response with the court, which had been scheduled for last August, and District Court Judge John Bates agreed to an extension to October 3.
US President Joe Biden gave Prince Mohammed a fist bump during his visit to Saudi Arabia in July, which focused on energy and security issues.
Biden told the Saudi crown prince that he held him responsible for Khashoggi’s murder.
He added that Prince Mohammed denied involvement in this matter and emphasized that those involved in Khashoggi’s murder are responsible.
Khashoggi, who had criticized Prince Mohammed’s policies in Washington Post articles, was killed and dismembered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after going to the consulate to get the documents needed to marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz.
Khadija Cengiz and a human rights group founded by Khashoggi sued the crown prince in the United States for unspecified damages, naming more than 20 other Saudi defendants in the case.
The lawsuit alleges that the Crown, the rest of the defendants and others conspired to “silence” after learning that he intended to use the group he founded as a “platform to advocate for democratic reform and the defense of human beings.” They did Mr. Khashoggi forever. Rights.”
Source: Lebanon Debate
