Matilda Omonaiye/
Saudi Arabia crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, today accepted full responsibility for the murder of his kinsman and Washington Post columnist, Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, who was a fierce critic of the authorities in his homeland.
“Absolutely not. This was a heinous crime. But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.”
Fielding questions on a TV programme – 60 Minutes, anchored by Norah O’Donnell, the Crown Prince said that he would take full responsibility because Khashoggi was killed by men working for the Saudi government to which he belonged as a leader.
O’Donnell asked him in English: “Did you order the murder of Jamal Khashoggi?
Prince Salman who could speak fluent English chose to answer in Arabic that was interpreted by a translator.
His answer was translated thus: “Absolutely not. This was a heinous crime. But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.”
The interview drew knocks and kudos for Norah O’Donnell and her channel which some critics say she has given to the Crown Prince to spread lies and do public relations.
Watch Video:
https://twitter.com/NorahODonnell/status/1178487842558885888?s=03
Three months ago, independent investigators indicted the Saudi Crown Prince in the murder of the journalist.
According to a United Nations special rapporteur who spoke with CNN June 19, there was “sufficient credible evidence” that the crown prince should bear responsibility for Khashoggi’s murder, and she wanted him investigated for it.
Khashoggi was a Saudi dissident, author, columnist for The Washington Post, and a general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel. He was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, by agents of the Saudi government.
The UN investigator Agnes Callamard said that Saudi Arabia was responsible under international law for the “deliberate, premeditated execution” of Khashoggi and current sanctions on some senior officials do not go far enough.