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.

Fears Grow Over Fate of Missing Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
FILE PHOTO:
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 08: Nobel Prize winner Tawakkol Karman holds a poster of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest outside Saudi Arabia's consulate on October 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Fears are growing over the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi after Turkish officials said they believe he was murdered inside the Saudi consulate. Saudi consulate officials have said that missing writer and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi went missing after leaving the consulate, however the statement directly contradicts other sources including Turkish officials. Jamal Khashoggi a Saudi writer critical of the Kingdom and a contributor to the Washington Post was living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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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.

Fears Grow Over Fate of Missing Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
FILE PHOTO: ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 08: People hold posters of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest organized by members of the Turkish-Arabic Media Association at the entrance to Saudi Arabia's consulate on October 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Fears are growing over the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi after Turkish officials said they believe he was murdered inside the Saudi consulate. Saudi consulate officials have said that missing writer and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi went missing after leaving the consulate, however the statement directly contradicts other sources including Turkish officials. Jamal Khashoggi a Saudi writer critical of the Kingdom and a contributor to the Washington Post was living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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A human rights advocate called the Turkish decision "scandalous," arguing that justice for Khashoggi would not be delivered by Saudi courts.

Fears Grow Over Fate of Missing Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
FILE PHOTO:
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 08: Nobel Prize winner Tawakkol Karman speaks to the media while protesting the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside Saudi Arabia's consulate on October 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Fears are growing over the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi after Turkish officials said they believe he was murdered inside the Saudi consulate. Saudi consulate officials have said that missing writer and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi went missing after leaving the consulate, however the statement directly contradicts other sources including Turkish officials. Jamal Khashoggi a Saudi writer critical of the Kingdom and a contributor to the Washington Post was living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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Fears Grow Over Fate of Missing Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
FILE PHOTO:
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 08: People hold posters of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest organized by members of the Turkish-Arabic Media Association at the entrance to Saudi Arabia's consulate on October 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Fears are growing over the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi after Turkish officials said they believe he was murdered inside the Saudi consulate. Saudi consulate officials have said that missing writer and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi went missing after leaving the consulate, however the statement directly contradicts other sources including Turkish officials. Jamal Khashoggi a Saudi writer critical of the Kingdom and a contributor to the Washington Post was living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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