Current Events > Saudi Consul fired and placed under investigation after he is 'recorded saying..

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Saudi Consul fired and placed under investigation after he is 'recorded saying 'Do this outside; you're going to get me in trouble' during torture of journalist'

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/sevenminute-audio-captures-screams-of-dismembered-dissident-journalist-jamal-khashoggi-a3964306.html

Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul was sacked today and placed under investigation over the alleged torture and murder of a dissident journalist.

Mohammad al-Otaibi, who fled Turkey after the alleged killing of Jamal Khashoggi, has been relieved of his post and will face an investigation, according to an official government statement.

Mr al-Otaibi is said to have been recorded in a seven-minute audio clip during the alleged torture of Mr Khashoggi, saying: "Do this outside; youre going to get me in trouble."

The development came as world leaders intensified pressure on Riyadh over Mr Khashoggi's disappearance, as a frequent companion of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was named in reports as a possible suspect.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his G7 counterparts said they were very troubled by the case of the missing dissident journalist and insisted those responsible must be held to account.

The audio recording allegedly captures the Washington Post columnists screams as he was dismembered.

Turkish investigators today entered the Saudi consul's Istanbul residence as part of the investigation

Saudi national Mr Khashoggi, who was critical of the crown prince, is feared to have been killed while visiting the Gulf kingdoms consulate in Istanbul 15 days ago.

Saudi Arabia is a key ally of the West and Donald Trump last night said it was being treated as guilty until proven innocent likening claims that senior Saudi figures were involved to the sex assault allegations against new Supreme Court judge Brett Kavanaugh.

But today G7 statement said: We, the G7 foreign ministers, of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, affirm our commitment to defending freedom of expression and protection of a free press.

We remain very troubled by the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Those bearing responsibility for his disappearance must be held to account. We encourage Turkish-Saudi collaboration and look forward to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conducting a thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt investigation, as announced.

Britains relationship with Riyadh came under fresh scrutiny, with a report claiming the RAF has been training Saudi air force crew over the past four years as part of a secret deal.

Mr Khashoggi, who lived in the US, was last seen when he entered the consulate in Istanbul on October 2. He had gone to finalise paperwork so he could marry Turkish fiance Hatice Cengiz. She was outside and says she did not see him leave.

Turkish officials have said police searching the consulate found evidence Mr Khashoggi was killed there. Saudi Arabia has denied allegations he was murdered and his body was cut up.

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The New York Times today reported Turkey had identified former London diplomat Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb as a possible suspect.

The man is said to have travelled extensively with the 33-year-old Saudi crown prince.

The NYT claimed as many as nine of the 15 suspects identified by Turkish authorities worked for Saudi Arabias security services, military or government ministries. Three of those were allegedly linked to the crown princes security team.

The newspaper also claimed a forensic doctor who specialises in autopsies was at the consulate in Turkey when Mr Khashoggi went in. The Saudis have not commented on the NYTs claims.

Meanwhile gruesome new details of Mr Khashoggis alleged killing inside the consulate emerged in reports claiming his screams could be heard throughout the consulate as he was tortured and killed.

Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak claimed Saudi Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi could be heard on an unreleased audio tape, telling the journalists alleged torturers: Do this outside; youre going to get me in trouble.

The newspaper said one of the torturers replied: Shut up if you want to live when you return to (Saudi) Arabia.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo today held talks in Ankara with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that some areas of the consulate in Istanbul had been freshly painted before Turkish officials were allowed to investigate.

Yesterday Mr Pompeo met King Salman, the crown prince and Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir. Mr Pompeo said they promised to carry out a complete and transparent investigation and hold anyone connected to any wrongdoing ... accountable.

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The audio recording allegedly captures the Washington Post columnists screams as he was dismembered.
This whole sort of affairs makes me violently angry.
Sorta like seeing ISIS burn that one man alive, or the cartel beheading people.

Isn't Saudi Arabia on the UN Human Rights council?
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Tsuyoi3 posted...

Isn't Saudi Arabia on the UN Human Rights council?

i'm sorry, but that council is a joke.
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i understand my topic title sucks because of the 80 character limit but pls care
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monkmith posted...

Tsuyoi3 posted...

Isn't Saudi Arabia on the UN Human Rights council?

i'm sorry, but that council is a joke.

The entire UN is a fucking joke these days. They're more concerned with who said something offensive than they are with the actual human rights violations in places like Saudi Arabia (who yes, are indeed on the "Human Rights Council") and North Korea.
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Hopefully SA actually does the right thing.

FratMilkyHolme posted...

Hopefully SA actually does the right thing.

lol
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he'll be the next one to disappear
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Alpha218 posted...

FratMilkyHolme posted...

Hopefully SA actually does the right thing.

lol

:( I know it's a pipe dream