In a rare expression of stern approach to Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump, who has close ties with the ruling leaders, has said the United states will inflict “severe punishment” if the kingdom is found to be responsible for the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi’s disappearance from Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, and Turkish officials’ allegation that the journalist – a critic of Riyadh – was murdered in the diplomatic office, have outraged human rights and media advocates.
Excerpts from an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” have been released by the television network, in which Trump says the case of Khashoggi was “being looked at very, very strongly.”
The U.S. administration, he says, “would be very upset and angry” if it turned out that the Saudi government had ordered his killing.
“As of this moment, they deny it and they deny it vehemently. Could it be them? Yes,” he said.
“I don’t want to hurt jobs." President Trump says there will be consequences if Saudi Arabia is found to be behind journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance, but he won’t commit to sanctions or cutting sales of military equipment. 60 Minutes, Sunday. https://t.co/lO8gSASPJZ pic.twitter.com/VhAEOoDBN6
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 13, 2018
The missing journalist visited the consulate to obtain paperwork that would have allowed him to marry his Turkish fiancee. He hasn’t been seen in public since then and critics of the Saudi regime believe he was killed.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment,” Trump said.
![Alfagih at the Arabic language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.viewsnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jamal-Kahshoggi.jpg)
Jamal Khashoggi, Photo: Alfagih at the Arabic language Wikipedia
Saudi Arabia has dismissed allegations that it ordered his killing as “lies”. The interior minister said on Friday that the kingdom was keen to uncover “the whole truth” stressing reports “about orders to kill” are “baseless”.
The issue is turning out to be a big test for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has presented himself as a reformer in the conservative Arab country, which is home to the two holiest places in Islam.
A Turkish security source has told the BBC that officials had audio and video evidence proving Mr Khashoggi, who writes for the Washington Post, was murdered inside the consulate.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevut Cavusoglu, said Saudi Arabia was not yet co-operating with the investigation.
He urged Riyadh to allow Turkish officials to enter the consulate.
Journalist organizations have expressed serious concern over the disappearance of Khashoggi.
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