Khashoggi case: Turkish justice wants to “close” the file and transfer it to Saudi Arabia

Turkish media reported Thursday that Ankara would transfer files of suspects in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Riyadh, while Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced important steps to improve relations with Saudi Arabia.

Turkish prosecutors have demanded that the trial of 26 people accused of involvement in Khashoggi’s murder be referred to Saudi judicial authorities, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

During Thursday’s court hearing in Istanbul, which was not attended by the defendants, prosecutors demanded that the necessary procedures be initiated to ensure the trial is transferred to Saudi judicial authorities.

The court also decided to stop examining the case and start the necessary procedures to transfer it to the Saudi judicial authorities.

The trial panel decided to adjourn the session, with the Turkish Ministry of Justice asking for its opinion on the transfer of the case to the Saudi judicial authorities.

Cavusoglu said Thursday during a television interview that there are important steps towards normalizing relations between his country and Saudi Arabia.

He added that his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, had earlier announced his intention to visit Turkey. “This visit has not yet been planned because of the momentum in the political movement”, he said.

Cavusoglu also said he met Prince Faisal in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on March 22 on the sidelines of the 48th meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers.

In late 2019, Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death and three others to prison in the case of Khashoggi, who was assassinated in October 2018 at his country’s consulate in Istanbul.