Jamal Khashoggi murder: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has immunity, says Washington

Washington cares about relations with Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is being sued in a civil court over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has legal immunity, the United States government said in a filing on Friday (November 18th).

“The United States respectfully informs the court that the defendant Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the acting head of government and therefore enjoys immunity from these suits.It is written in this argument, which is signed by the administration of the President of the United States, Joe Biden.

“Jamal died for the second time”

US courts grant immunity to heads of state and other high-ranking officials. However, the prince, nicknamed MBS, was appointed prime minister at the end of September, suggesting he is seeking to protect himself from claims in foreign courts, and in particular a civil case brought by Turkey’s Hatice Cengiz in Washington. The daughter-in-law of a journalist killed in the Royal Consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

In response to a communication from the American executive, the latter protested on Twitter : “Jamal died for the second time today”He wrote and added: “No one expected such a decision. We thought maybe US justice would shed some light. But, again, the first money spoke. »

The US government’s recommendation is not binding on the court. The text is added to this “The State Department is not commenting on the merits of this proceeding and reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the horrific assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. A close ally of Saudi Arabia’s power, which later became critical of it.

“The Biden administration has crossed the line”

The recommendation shocked supporters of the journalist’s widow’s action, including Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a US-based NGO founded by Mr Khashoggi. “The Biden administration crossed the line by recommending immunity for MBS and holding him accountableDAWN Executive Director Sarah Leah Whitson commented. Now that Mr. Biden has declared that MBS has full immunity, we can expect his attacks on the people of our country to get even worse. » Agnes Calamar, Secretary General of the non-governmental organization Amnesty International, described the US government’s recommendation as follows. “deep betrayal”.

“The Biden administration is not only protecting [MBS] from any prosecution in the US courts, but is more dangerous than ever with a license to kill his opponents without consequence.”At the same time, Khalid al-Jabri was condemned by Saad al-Jabri, the son of a former Saudi spy who accused the prince of sending a hit squad to Canada.

In its defense, the White House said Friday, through National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, that there is no judicial immunity for the crown prince. “Absolutely nothing to do with bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, which, as you know, are strained at the moment.” He claimed it was a Justice Department decision at the request of the State Department.

After a period of relative isolation following the journalist’s murder, MBS has returned to the international scene this year, thanks in particular to the American president. Joe Biden visited Saudi Arabia in July, a move with little apparent achievement since he had previously pledged to become a royal. “Outcast”. Last year, Mr. Biden released an intelligence report that said Prince had approved the operation that led to the death of Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi authorities denied it.