Turkish court Transfers Khashoggi Assasination Trial to Saudi Arabia

On April 7, 2022, a Turkish court decided to transfer the trial of 26 Saudi suspects accused of the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia.   The decision came after a panel of judges granted a request last week by the prosecutor in the trial to transfer the case because none of the suspects were in Turkish custody and that the case would be inconclusive.  Soon after, Turkey’s justice minister, Bekir Bozdag, recommended that the Istanbul court close the trial in absentia and resume the case in Saudi Arabia.[1]   While endorsing the case’s transfer, Bozdag stated that if the Saudi authorities convict the defendants, the Turkish court would drop the case, but if they are acquitted, the Turkish court may resume the trial.[2]