Saudi Crown Prince approved Khashoggi's murder
According to a newly published US intelligence report, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, who had been living in the US, was murdered by a death squad on 2 October 2018 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Until now bin Salman had only assumed formal responsibility for the killing. Commentators call for a clear response from the international community.
Saudi Arabia must respect the rule of law
Riyadh will need to make a major effort if it wants its partnership with the US to continue, Le Monde comments:
“The Democratic President Biden knows he can't turn MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] into a paragon of virtue. ... For him it's simply necessary that his key Arab partner should be more presentable and play the multilateralism game. ... The crown prince would do well to heed the message. Alongside his fits of authoritarianism he's started an ambitious programme to modernise his country's economy and society. This initiative requires high levels of foreign investment and popular approval, which Saudi Arabia is currently a long way from having. If he wants his plan to have a chance of success, MBS must align his kingdom of fear with the rule of law.”
Sanctions and a trial needed
The British government must take a harder line against the Saudi regime, The Observer demands:
“It should sanction the crown prince, at the very least, by adding his name to the list of 20 Saudi nationals on whom [UK Foreign Secretary Dominic] Raab imposed travel bans and asset freezes last year over their involvement in Khashoggi's death. Britain should halt sales of weapons and equipment that could be used in Yemen or to suppress domestic dissent. And it should unreservedly back efforts to bring Mohammed bin Salman to justice for conspiracy to murder.”