18 Suspects Of Khashoggi Murder Should Be Tried In Istanbul – President Erdogan
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for 18 Saudi suspects in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to stand trial in Istanbul, saying all those involved must face punishment.
“My demand is that 18 people be tried in Istanbul,” Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling AK Party lawmakers in Ankara, adding that “all those who played a role in the murder” had to face punishment.
He said that the murder was “planned” days in advance according to a “road map” set up by a Saudi team who were sent to Istanbul for the purpose. Erdogan added he still wanted answers on numerous issues, including “who gave orders” to the team and where the corpse is.
Erdogan stressed that there were strong signs that the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was planned in advance and that he was murdered in a “savage way.”
According to the Turkish leader, he didn’t doubt Saudi King Salman’s sincerity in light of the killing but told him that the Saudi consul in Istanbul was incompetent and that he was forced to step down from the post and return to his country.
