Federal Judge John Bates of Washington accepted the US government’s position that Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister bin Salman has immunity as a foreign head of government. America says that being the PM of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman has diplomatic immunity. Bates said the lawsuit filed by Khashoggi’s widow Hatice Cengiz and her activist group DAWN makes a “strong” argument that Prince Mohammed was behind the murder.
The judge said – there was no option
The judge ruled that he had no power to overrule the US government’s official position. The government put this position before the court in the form of a formal statement on November 17, saying that bin Salman has “immunity” as a foreign leader. He said the “credible” allegations of murder, the timing of the crown prince becoming prime minister and the US government’s decision left him “restless”. But Bates said he had no other choice in the matter.
The murder took place in the Saudi consulate
Mohammed bin Salman has been the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia for many years. Although his father King Salman is sitting on the throne of the king. One of bin Salman’s most outspoken critics, Khashoggi was a US-based journalist and activist. He was visiting Turkey with his fiancee when he was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Not only this, Khashoggi’s body was dismembered and his body disappeared.
