Turkey Suspends Trial of Saudi Suspects in Khashoggi Killing
Turkey Suspends Trial of Saudi Suspects in Khashoggi Killing
By AYSE WIETING and SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press
ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish court has suspended the trial in absentia of 26 Saudis accused in the gruesome killing of "Washington Post" columnist Jamal Khashoggi and ruled that the case be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
The decision Thursday comes despite warnings from human rights groups that turning the case over to the kingdom would lead to a cover up of the killing, which has cast suspicions on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
It also comes as Turkey, which is in an economic downturn, has been trying to repair its troubled relationship with Saudi Arabia and other countries in its region.
A human rights advocate called the Turkish decision "scandalous," arguing that justice for Khashoggi would not be delivered by Saudi courts.