Rights Group: U.S. Should Hang Head in Shame Over MBS Immunity

Date: 19 November 2022 - 21:33

News ID: ۱۰۹۱۳۹

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – The United States says it is not seeking to smooth frayed bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia after an international rights group blasted the Biden administration over granting immunity to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) over journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 murder.
“This legal determination has absolutely nothing to do with the merits of the case itself,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Friday, referring to the civil lawsuit against the crown prince and other Saudis by Khashoggi’s fiancee Hatice Cengiz.
The White House issued the statement after Amnesty International condemned the Biden administration and called the act “a deep betrayal.”
“The U.S. government should hang its head in shame. This is nothing more than a sickening, total, deep betrayal,” Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said in a statement.
“First the evidence of the Crown Prince’s involvement in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder was disregarded by President Trump, then President Biden’s fist bump -- it all suggests shady deals made throughout.”
The U.S. State Department on Thursday gave bin Salman immunity from the lawsuit despite Joe Biden’s earlier promise to hold the de facto Saudi ruler accountable for the crime.
Citing its constitutional authority as well as customary international law, the State Department said, “Prime Minister bin Salman as a sitting head of government is immune while in office from the jurisdiction of the United States District Court in this suit.”
Kirby said on Friday the determination “has absolutely nothing to do with the bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia, which as you know, is tense right now.”
Amnesty International blasted the Saudi monarchy for naming bin Salman as prime minister in a royal decree, a move that was designed to skirt exposure in the civil action filed by Khashoggi’s fiancee.
Callamard added that it was “beyond cynical” for the Saudi monarchy to seek to extend immunity to the prince by declaring him prime minister.
“It is disappointing that the U.S. government has given effect to this legal ruse,” she said, adding it “sends a deplorable message that those in power...are free to operate above the law with total impunity.”
Khashoggi, who was murdered and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, used to be a vocal critic of the Saudi regime and the crown prince.
According to reports, he was lured into the diplomatic mission under the pretext of being provided with papers for his wedding. He was suffocated and dismembered while his fiance waited outside for him.