The wife of murdered Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi says “zero justice” has been served over her husband’s death.
Mr Khashoggi, a strident critic of the kingdom, was slain by Saudi agents in an operation in Istanbul in 2018, and American intelligence agencies concluded Mohammed bin Salman had ordered his capture or killing.
The crown prince has denied ordering the operation, but acknowledged responsibility as Riyadh’s de-facto ruler.
He was hosted at the White House on Tuesday for the first time in seven years, and Donald Trump defended him and cast doubt upon his own country’s assessments.
Mr Trump derided Mr Khashoggi as “extremely controversial” and said “a lot of people didn’t like that gentleman”.
Hanan Khashoggi told Sky News’ The World With Yalda Hakim she was “disappointed” by the remarks, as she demanded compensation from the crown prince.
He has described the killing of her husband as a “huge mistake”.
Addressing Mr Trump directly, Ms Khashoggi said she would be willing to meet the US president to tell him about the Washington Post writer, who she said was “a great man, and a professional, and he was a brave man as well”.
A vigil for Khashoggi outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he was killed. Pic: Reuters
‘They destroyed my life’
Ms Khashoggi said her husband was not controversial or unlikeable – but even if he was, “it doesn’t justify the action of kidnapping him, torturing him, killing him and dismantling his body”.
She also said she would meet the crown prince and “ask him to retrieve Jamal’s body, so I can bury him in a decent, good way”, as well as ask for financial compensation.
“They killed my husband, they destroyed my life,” she added. “They have to compensate me.”
Hanan Khashoggi
Trump defends MBS
Asked about the murder in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said: “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen.
“But he (Bin Salman) knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.
“You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
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Mr Trump even celebrated the Saudi leader for the kingdom’s human rights record, without providing specific details.
“I’m very proud of the job he’s done,” he said.
Human rights groups say Saudi authorities continue to harshly repress dissent by arresting human rights defenders, journalists and political dissidents.
They also highlight a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia they connect to an effort to suppress internal dissent.
The crown prince announced Saudi Arabia was increasing its planned investments in the US to $1trn, up from the $600bn the Saudis announced they would pour into the US when Mr Trump visited the kingdom in May.
