Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Muhammad Binsalman is suspected of being ordered to assassinate Kashqji. AP Yonhap News
The U.S. officially pointed to Saudi Arabian crown prince Muhammad Binsalman behind the assassination of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Kashqji, but excluded the crown prince from the relevant sanctions. In fact, there is a judgment that it is impossible to completely turn the prince, who is in power, as an enemy. Although President Joe Biden emphasized human rights as a major value in his foreign policy, he faced the reality that Saudi Arabia, a key ally in the Middle East, could not be lost.
According to Reuters and the like, the US National Intelligence Service (DNI) released a four-page confidential report on the 26th (local time) stating that “Prince Muhammad approves the operation to capture or kill Kashukji”. After serving as a columnist for the Washington Post in the United States and criticizing the Saudi royal family, no body was found after being killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey in October 2018. A Saudi court sentenced eight people to a maximum of 20 years in prison for killing Kashqji, but the suspicion that Crown Prince Muhammad was behind the case did not disappear.
The report released on the day noted the fact that the team that killed Kashukji included seven private bodyguards who could not participate without the permission of the Crown Prince. It is argued that the Crown Prince normally regarded Kashukji as a’threat to the kingdom’ and widely supported the mobilization of violent means to silence him. The report listing 21 people involved in the case revealed a strong conviction that “they were involved or responsible for the death of Kashqji on behalf of Prince Muhammad.”
Nevertheless, the US government has not carried out any direct action against the Crown Prince. Based on the NDI report, the Crown Prince was not included in the list of sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury today, including restrictions on visa issuance to 76 Saudi citizens. “There are currently no signs that there are plans to sanction the Crown Prince at least,” Bloomberg News said. Considering the fact that the Saudi king is old, it is expected that the crown prince, who is already in power, will take over the Saudi power for a long time, so it is difficult to decide on sanctions against him. Saudi Arabia, along with Israel in the Middle East, is a representative U.S. ally, and is a very important ally in terms of Iran’s checks.
But within the United States, disappointment with the Biden administration may be expressed. The Daily New York Times described it as “a decision that could disappoint members of the human rights group and the ruling Democratic Party.” This is because President Biden has expressed a strong position that accurate investigation and sanctions on the Kashukji case are necessary since the time of the presidential candidate, and has promised to show a differentiation from his predecessor, President Donald Trump, in human rights issues.
Meanwhile, the Saudi government denied the report. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, refuting that “the report completely rejects the negative, false and unacceptable evaluation of the report on the leadership,” and “the report contains inaccurate information and conclusions.” In addition, he repeatedly emphasized the existing position that “Kashukji assassination is a hate crime and an outright violation of the laws and values of the kingdom.”
Azalea reporter [email protected]
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