Turkey Says It Is Time for International Khashoggi Investigation

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that it is time for an international investigation to be launched into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

News ID: 443146

Date: 25 January 2019 - 13:25

RNA - In an interview with Turkish broadcaster A Haber, Cavusoglu said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered preparations to be made to carry the case to an international level, and said a United Nations special rapporteur will be coming to Turkey.

He added that a United Nations special rapporteur on the case will visit Ankara soon.

The Turkey's foreign minister had accused some Western countries of trying to cover up the murder of Khashoggi.

"We see how those, who speak of freedom of press in the world, cover this thing up when they see money," Cavusoglu told a youth meeting in Istanbul.

Cavusoglu said that Turkey acted wisely in the case, adding that they were well-aware of the difficulties in shedding light on the murder, adding that "now we have made preparations for an international probe in the coming days. We will take the necessary steps".

Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), was killed by a Saudi hit squad in early October 2018 shortly after he entered his country's consulate in Turkish city of Istanbul. He was dismembered inside the building in what Ankara called a "premeditated murder" orchestrated with orders from the highest levels of the Saudi government. Riyadh has countered that claim, insisting Khashoggi died in a "rogue operation" after initially claiming he had left the consulate before vanishing. Despite a joint investigation with Saudi officials looking at their consulate in Istanbul, the consul's residence and several other locations, the whereabouts of Khashoggi's remains are still unknown.

Turkey also wants Saudi Arabia to extradite those accused of carrying out the murder to be tried in Turkish courts.

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