US Sanctions 17 Individuals in Connection with Khashoggi's Murder

The US Treasury Department has placed 17 individuals on its sanctions list due to their roles in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the current Saudi rulers. On Thursday, November 15, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced that these 17 individuals 'were involved in the targeting and brutal murder of a US-based journalist and must face the consequences of their actions.' The list includes Saud al-Qahtani and Maher Mutreb, two advisors to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Mohammed al-Otaibi, the Saudi consul in Istanbul. Mnuchin also stated that Washington will continue its efforts to uncover what happened in this case and will hold 'anyone deemed responsible for Khashoggi's murder' accountable. Saudi officials have not yet reacted to the US sanctions, but just hours before Mnuchin's statement, they hinted at the possible execution of five suspects in the case. The Saudi Public Prosecutor's Office announced that of the 21 individuals detained in connection with this case, 11 are suspected of involvement in the murder, and requests for the death penalty may be made for five of them. Shortly after this announcement, Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Muajab stated in a press conference that the perpetrators of Khashoggi's murder had plotted their plan three days prior to the incident, and that his body was mutilated inside the consulate. The Saudi Attorney General also mentioned that Ahmad al-Asiri, the dismissed deputy of the security intelligence agency, was the highest-ranking official behind this murder. In response to the Saudi judicial official's statements, Turkey reiterated its insistence on trying the suspects on 'Turkish soil.' Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu emphasized that the actions of the Saudi prosecutor's office are 'positive but insufficient,' stating that the murder was premeditated and that the necessary equipment for mutilating the body had been transferred to Turkey. Turkish officials have previously stated that Khashoggi's murder was carried out by a 15-member team sent from Riyadh to Istanbul, and the order for the murder was issued by the highest Saudi officials, 'although King Salman had no role in it.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the day before that he had shared audio files related to this murder with Saudi Arabia and several other countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Canada. According to Erdogan, the manner of Khashoggi's murder was so horrific that a Saudi intelligence officer was shocked upon hearing these recordings. Meanwhile, several media outlets and some US lawmakers continue to direct accusations at Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, noting that General Ahmad al-Asiri was one of his close associates. However, the Saudi government has denied these allegations.