The assassination of journalist Jamal Hashukaji at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 revealed to all eyes Riyadh's criminal conception of the regime's critics, but the fact that the Saudi leadership was not seriously punished for what happened allows the kingdom to continue violating human rights. Continue to employ one of the murder planners.
"Muhammad bin Salman is a psychopath," Saad al-Jabri attacked the Saudi crown prince in an interview with CBS '60 Minutes.
He claims a second assassination squad was sent to "close an account with him" in Canada, while as early as 2014 the regent thought of an idea to eliminate his old uncle, King Abdullah, using a poisoned ring from Russia.
"Now we are Saudis!"
Newcastle fans celebrate purchase deal / Photo: Reuters
Al-Jabri was number two in the Saudi intelligence service, and was one of the United States' biggest partners in the fight against terrorism. Now, he needs American help. "The regent is a murderer with endless resources," al-Jabri continued. Danger to his people, Americans and the entire planet.
This is a person without empathy.
He is emotionless and does not produce anything from his mistakes. "
According to No. 2 in the former Saudi intelligence service, a colleague from the Middle East intelligence service warned him - a few days after Hashukaji's assassination - that an eight-to-six Saudi squad had been sent to Ottawa to "treat" him.
"I was told not to approach any Saudi mission in Canada. I asked 'why?'
"The same man told me, 'They killed Hashukaji. You're at the top of the list.'"
In retrospect, Ottawa themselves admitted that there is truth - at least - in part of the story.
Al-Jabari, 62, and his family are experiencing firsthand the concept of "closing the accounts" of Ben Salman.
Saad is the father of eight children who became entangled due to the removal of Muhammad bin Naif from the post of regent and the appointment of Muhammad bin Salman in his place.
As a result, he was forced to flee to Canada - but those who got particularly entangled were his daughter Sarah and son Omar who had planned to go to college in the US, but are now inmates in a Saudi prison. Muhammad bin Salman did not content himself with that. Al-Jabri, who was severely beaten - until he was returned to the kingdom.
Saad al-Jabri (right) and his son Omar in 2016.
The son is currently in prison in Saudi Arabia, Photo: Reuters
Al-Jabri's remarks came after the British Guardian reported that Saud Qahtani, a senior adviser to Muhammad bin Salman accused of directing Hashukaji's assassination, continued to play a key role in Riyadh. "He was spotted at the Riyadh palace, from which he is accused of plotting one of the most serious murders in modern history," said a senior official who saw Kahtani. "He's still trying to keep a low profile." A senior Persian Gulf official added that "there is no question about Kahtani returning. But the question that needs to be asked is is he really left?"
One of the harshest critics that Saudi Arabia has "spawned" for itself is Hashukaji's fiancée, the Tija Genghis.
His murder is particularly traumatic for her, as the reason he came to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul - on the day he was murdered - was to obtain documents for the couple's impending marriage.
Having previously visited the United States in the past, amid Washington's strong ties with Riyadh, in early October it pointed an accusing finger at Britain - due to the Saudi acquisition of Newcastle United football club for £ 300 million ($ 408 million).
"Newcastle fans very disappointing"
"This deal broke my heart, I'm very disappointed," Genghis told BBC Radio.
"It seems that they (Newcastle fans) do not care about what happened to Jamal, they only care about their financial future. I want to remind them that there is something that is much more important than money. They should be sent a message that buying an English football club is unworthy due to Jamal. "
Jamal Hashukaji and his fiancée, the Tija Genghis, in Istanbul - a few hours before his murder at the consulate, Photo: AP
A significant issue that allows the Saudis in general and Muhammad bin Salman in particular to conduct themselves as they choose to conduct themselves is the helplessness of Washington.
While the Biden administration is trying to promote the reopening of the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem, halting financial support for Sudan over the military coup and even adding a bizarre call for Israel to "re-examine normalization" with Khartoum - they are working with "silk gloves" against Riyadh.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan did raise the issue of Hashukaji's assassination in a meeting with senior Saudi officials about a month ago, but with the exception of an American leak to al-Jazeera that provided the Doha-Ankara axis - the Americans, as usual, did not take In no significant action recently to put Ben Salman in his place.
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (center) and Saudi billionaire Prince Walid bin Talal (right), Photo: AFP
At the same time as the US preaches morality to Israel about its relations with Israel and insists on supporting the diplomatic channel with Iran regarding the nuclear deal, Ben Salman and his people - instead of continuing the rapprochement process with Israel under the behind-the-scenes Abraham agreements - generally choose to improve relations with Tehran.
Talks between Riyadh and Tehran "on the right track"
"I hope that the talks between the two countries will form the basis for resolving the issues between the two countries," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
On the other hand, his Iranian counterpart Amir Abdullahian claimed that "the talks are on the right track."
It is a rather cynical process of talks between two countries that are regularly preceded by human rights abuses.
Riyadh, ostensibly, is not at all trying to present a constitution or conduct that aligns with the perception of the importance of human rights in the Western world.
In 2015, the "Associations and Organizations" law was approved, under which no independent human rights organization can operate in the kingdom.
At the same time, Riyadh's primitive conception of women does not lead to their protection in the field of social activity.
In fact, the opposite is true.
An example of this can be found in the case of Lujin al-Hadalul, who was arrested three years ago as part of a claim that she was involved in an attempt to undermine the stability of the kingdom.
Rather, her severe sentence illustrates the severity of the Saudi silence: nearly six years in prison, against a woman who, as part of her activities, among other things, wanted Riyadh to allow women to drive.
Political Prisoner, Lujin al-Hadalul,
Evidence of the systematic human rights violations in Saudi Arabia can be obtained from what has been happening in the kingdom in recent months.
After between November 22-21 last year, Riyadh hosted the G20 conference (the world's largest economies) at a conference held at Zoom - there has been a drastic jump in the volume of executions in the country.
Amnesty International figures show that after the G20 presidency of Saudi Arabia saw an 85% drop in the number of executions, no less than nine people were executed within a month of the G-20 conference.
Beyond that, between January and July 2021 - 40 more prisoners were found dead in the kingdom.
One of the prisoners found dead is Mustafa al-Darwish, a 27-26-year-old Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia who was executed in June this year after three years in prison.
The grounds for his sentence, handed down in March 2018, included, "participation in an armed uprising and blocking of roads," "establishment of a terrorist network and shooting at security forces."
Mustafa al-Darwish.
Pleaded guilty to "abuse" while abusing,
His confession to the charges was supposed to lead to a severe punishment, but before the judges, al-Darwish recounted what he had experienced.
"I was beaten and humiliated so I would confess," he said.
"I was abused, including in secret areas, until I lost consciousness. I confessed out of fear for my life."
However, as stated, this did not benefit al-Darwish.
Overall, Amnesty International indicates at least 64 lawsuits against Saudi citizens who tried to promote human rights or visited the government between December 2020 and July 2021. Of those, 39 are currently in jail - while the rest are awaiting sentencing.
Great doubt they will be the last.
