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Khashoggi’s fiancee says ‘no one has right’ to pardon killers
ISTANBUL, May 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The Turkish fiancee of murdered Saudi
journalist Jamal Khashoggi said Friday “no one” had the right to pardon his
murderers after his sons said they “forgive” the killers. Khashoggi — a royal
family insider turned critic — was killed and dismembered at the Saudi
consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was
accused of ordering the killing but the kingdom has strongly denied this.
“His ambush and heinous murder does not have a statute of limitations and
no one has the right to pardon his killers. I and others will not stop until
we get #JusticeForJamal,” Khashoggi’s fiancee Hatice Cengiz tweeted.
“The killers came from Saudi with premeditation to lure, ambush & kill
him… We will not pardon the killers nor those who ordered the killing,” she
added.
Cengiz was responding to the Washington Post columnist’s son Salah
Khashoggi who tweeted earlier Friday that the sons “forgive and pardon those
who killed our father” during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting which ends
this weekend.
Analysts believe the announcement could spare the lives of five unnamed
people sentenced to death over the murder in a December court ruling.
Turkish officials say Khashoggi, 59, was strangled and his body was cut
into pieces by a 15-man Saudi group inside the kingdom’s mission. His remains
have never been found.
BSS/AFP/MMA/1600HRS