US judge dismisses case against Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing

[webfact]

Image source: Wikipedia

 

Judge says Mohammed bin Salman entitled to sovereign immunity despite ‘credible allegations’ of involvement in journalist’s murder

Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington

A US judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman that claimed he conspired to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying the crown prince was entitled to sovereign immunity despite “credible allegations” that he was involved in the murder.

 

Judge John Bates, a US district court judge with a long history of presiding over cases involving national security, acknowledged “uneasiness” in making the decision, but said that his hands were in effect tied by the Biden administration’s recent recommendation that Prince Mohammed be given immunity.

 

The decision to dismiss the civil claim, which was brought by Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, and Dawn, a pro-democracy group founded by the murdered journalist, likely marks the end of efforts to hold the future Saudi king accountable for the 2018 murder.

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/06/us-judge-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-khashoggi

 

-- © Copyright The Guardian 2022-12-07

[riclag]

 Political immunity is a curse ! No end in sight, while the establishment holds the keys to the justice system!

“As a longstanding and nearly universal concept, diplomatic immunity has long been considered customary law; 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity

 

[Geoffggi]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The decision to dismiss the civil claim, which was brought by Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, and Dawn, a pro-democracy group founded by the murdered journalist, likely marks the end of efforts to hold the future Saudi king accountable for the 2018 murder.

Justice Red Bull style ..................LOL

[VillageIdiot]

The judge is a disgrace.

Master Bates didn't have the backbone to do the right thing.

[ThaiFelix]

A journalists life is worth nothing compared to billion dollar oil deals.

[klauskunkel]

The judges hands were tied by a recommendation, not by the actual immunity...

My recommendation to the judge: wash your hands, now there's a precedent!

[spidermike007]

Sovereign immunity is an awful set of laws. It allows alot of horrific people to get away with truly heinous behavior. MBS is a madman, serial killer. Yet, he is treated with accord and respect, due to his status and his wealth. 

 

Bottom line. Saudi Arabia would be an unknown backwater, without its oil wealth. And the world would be better off without them.

[ozimoron]

 

*Deleted post edited out*

Let's not forget who green lit this.

[Mac Mickmanus]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

Let's not forget who green lit this crime.

Let me take a wild guess .

Donald Trump ?

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, ThaiFelix said:

A journalists life is worth nothing compared to billion dollar oil deals.

Financial pragmatism and international diplomacy always wins, it has to, which world leader doesn't have blood on his or her hands, if normal justice was valid for all no politician could travel with impunity.

[Aussieroaming]

He looks like the product of 10 generations of incest.

 

Oil money royalty rules over moral obligation in a heinous murder.

[Pla Simon]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Sovereign immunity is an awful set of laws. It allows alot of horrific people to get away with truly heinous behavior. MBS is a madman, serial killer. Yet, he is treated with accord and respect, due to his status and his wealth. 

 

Bottom line. Saudi Arabia would be an unknown backwater, without its oil wealth. And the world would be better off without them.

Veni, vidi, vici.

 

No way he drives a Honda.

[Pla Simon]

4 hours ago, VillageIdiot said:

The judge is a disgrace.

Master Bates didn't have the backbone to do the right thing.

Maybe he was distracted by seaman Staines.

[xtrnuno41]

the Biden administration’s

So that one is stronger, in fact above the law.

Good system ! 

[steven100]

Joe Biden =   WAP ......

[Credo]

10 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

the Biden administration’s

So that one is stronger, in fact above the law.

Good system ! 

Of course, the Administration would recommend immunity.  The world in which we live would be very different if countries could prosecute foreign leaders and diplomatic personnel.  At the biggest danger would be our own diplomats.   

 

I suspect the best place for this case to be tried is the International Court of Justice.  

 

 

[internationalism]

As there was a little chance for justice in the USA, they should try in Turkish courts. 
his fiancé is turkish, crime was committed on turkish soil, turkish authorities were willing to blow up its surveillance technique to publicly disclose records of this murder. 
Turkey was not scared to do so, even if they were not implicated in any form. 
Saudi are large importers of american armaments. Trump signed a large contract for tens of billions. Even if Trump was vocal at the time of murder, his declarations meant nothing a few months later, at signing of this contract. 
Biden travelled to saudi the last year begging for oil from saudi reserves in exchange for more weapons. And they got a deal. 
 

i think the US courts are selective in taking international cases, to suit their foreign policy

 

[Bluespunk]

And I’m sure it’s pure coincidence this happened a few days before a high level Chinese delegation visited Saudi…funny how things turn out eh…

[placeholder]

12 hours ago, internationalism said:

As there was a little chance for justice in the USA, they should try in Turkish courts. 
his fiancé is turkish, crime was committed on turkish soil, turkish authorities were willing to blow up its surveillance technique to publicly disclose records of this murder. 
Turkey was not scared to do so, even if they were not implicated in any form. 
Saudi are large importers of american armaments. Trump signed a large contract for tens of billions. Even if Trump was vocal at the time of murder, his declarations meant nothing a few months later, at signing of this contract. 
Biden travelled to saudi the last year begging for oil from saudi reserves in exchange for more weapons. And they got a deal. 
 

i think the US courts are selective in taking international cases, to suit their foreign policy

 

Turkey has since moved on and is no longer interested in antagonizing the Saudis.

 

Turkey to send case against Khashoggi’s alleged killers to Saudi Arabia
Suspension of trial reflects President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s desire to strengthen trade and political links with Middle East

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/07/turkish-court-sends-case-of-26-accused-over-khashoggi-killing-to-saudi-arabia