Senior Cleric:

Trump's Support for Journo-Killing Saudi Regime Unacceptable

Rasa - Tehran's provincial Friday Prayers Leader Hojjatoleslam Seyed Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabifard blasted US President Donald Trump for supporting the Riyadh regime in killing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey.

News ID: 441223

Date: 27 October 2018 - 09:31

RNA - Addressing a large and fervent congregation of the people in Tehran on Friday, Hojjatoleslam Aboutorabifard said, "The heinous regime of Saudi Arabia is badly hated by political and scientific elite; its main supporter is US President Donald Trump."

Khashoggi, known for his criticism of Saudi policies, had been working as a columnist for The Washington Post. The journalist was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Following more than two weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia admitted on Friday that the journalist had been killed in a brawl inside the consulate in Istanbul. According to Riyadh, 18 people have been arrested over their involvement in the incident. Turkey is conducting a separate investigation into the journalist's death.

According to Fars News Agency, on the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated".

Erdogan said all information and evidence that has been uncovered showed Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal murder.

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