Khashoggi’s fiancee Hatice Cengiz said she would appeal the decision that comes despite warnings from human rights groups.
(Al Jazeera) -A Turkish court has ruled to suspend the trial in absentia of 26 Saudis accused in the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for the case to be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
The 59-year-old journalist was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.
Last week, the prosecutor had called for the trial in absentia to be transferred to Saudi authorities.
Turkey’s justice minister later said the government would approve the request.
“We decided to halt and hand over the case to Saudi Arabia,” the Istanbul court said on Thursday, granting the prosecutor’s request on March 31.
The decision came despite warnings from human rights groups that turning the case over to the kingdom would lead to a cover-up of the killing, which a 2018 US intelligence report had linked to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, a Turkish academic and researcher, said she would appeal the decision.
Turkey “is not ruled by a family like in Saudi Arabia”, she said, telling journalists outside the court that “we have a justice system that addresses citizens’ grievances”.
