Turkey’s President Erdoğan: Khashoggi was brutally murdered
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has revealed what he has said is the “naked truth” about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, calling on Saudi Arabia to put the suspects on trial in Istanbul. President Erdoğan said on Tuesday there were strong indications that Jamal Khashoggi's killing was planned and stated that attempts to blame it on intelligence operatives - Riyadh has suggested it was a rogue operation - "will not satisfy us." Erdoğan said that he does not doubt Saudi King Salman's sincerity, without elaborating. He also said the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body were still unknown and he demanded Saudi Arabia to reveal the identity of a "local cooperator" who purportedly took the body. "The murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi was premeditated," Erdoğan said, adding Khashoggi’s killing was a “political murder.”
In a speech to parliament, Erdoğan did not mention Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who some U.S. lawmakers suspect ordered the killing. But he said Turkey would not complete its investigation into Khashoggi's death until all questions were answered.
"Intelligence and security institutions have evidence showing the murder was planned.... Pinning such a case on some security and intelligence members will not satisfy us or the international community," the president remarked.
“Consulate cameras had been removed,” Erdoğan said, adding that “the team who committed the murder was previously notified” that Khashoggi would be at the consulate.
He said evidence proved Khashoggi was "brutally murdered,” and called for the 18 suspects in the case to stand trial in Istanbul.
“Everybody, from the instructor of the murder to the implementer, should answer to clear mankind's conscience,” he said.
In his speech, Erdoğan also said that the Saudi government formally admitted to the killing of Khashoggi 17 days after his murder.
"The Vienna convention would not allow such a'brutal murder to happen," Erdoğan stated.
"Diplomatic immunity, which is a part of the Vienna Convention, will be debated," he remarked.
Erdoğan said a Saudi team of 15 entered the consulate the day of the killing, and that three men from the team went on an exploration trip to Belgrad forest in Istanbul and Yalova, a 90-kilometre (55 mile) drive south of Istanbul.
Following are excerpts about Khashoggi from Erdoğan’s speech as it happened:
* Khashoggi first came to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28 to get his marriage documents. The road map to kill Khashoggi started with this visit.
* On Oct. 1, a team of three (Saudis) landed in Istanbul and went to the consulate. Another consulate team went to Istanbul's Belgrad Forest and the [neighboring] Yalova province.
* Then another group came and this 15-member team went to the consulate on Oct. 2 morning and removed the hard disks of security cameras there.
* Khashoggi's went inside in the afternoon and he never left there. His fiancee noticed Turkish authorities about his disappearance. Our officials checked the security camera footage in the neighborhood and confirmed that Khashoggi never left the building.
* The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Office launched an investigation and found out that 15 Saudis including intelligence officers and forensics experts came to Turkey ahead of Khashoggi's visit.
* One of them tried to appear like Khashoggi by donning his clothes, glasses and a fake beard, before leaving Turkey with the others.
* Saudi Arabia rejected the killing on Oct. 4 and the consul invited the Reuters reporter inside, defending themselves.
* Saudi officials only allowed us to search the consulate building after we kept the issue on the international media's agenda.
* We always told that we will not keep silence. We waited for the investigation's results to refrain from accusing an innocent person.
* I spoke to King Salman on Oct. 14 and formed the joint investigation team. This is how our officials could enter the consulate and the consul's residence. I complained about the consul's stance and he was dismissed [by Riyadh].
* 17 days after the killing, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate. We held another phone call and they told us that 18 Saudis, including people from the 15-member team we exposed, were arrested in SaudiArabia.
* We also know very well who conducted social media campaigns to denigrate Turkey's image.
* It should not be forgotten that the Saudi consulate has diplomatic immunity but it is also inside our borders. We will surely investigate and do what is necessary after this killing.
* Information and evidence that came so far show that Khashoggi fell victim to a brutal murder.
* Saudi Arabia took an important step by admitting the killing. Now we expect them to punish all those who played a part in the murder. We have strong evidence that the killing was intentional, not accidental.
* Why did these 15 men meet in Istanbul on the day of the murder? Who did order them to do so? Why did they open the consulate building to investigation not immediately, but days later?
* Why don't they still produce the body of the person after their admission? Who is the "local cooperator" that a Saudi official pointed at as the person who took the body? You should reveal who this local cooperator is.
* All perpetrators and instigators should be punished.
* I have no doubt about the sincerity of King Salman. But, as this is a political murder, it should be investigated and put on trial independently and with no bias. The suspects' accomplices in other countries should also be included in the investigation.
* I have a call for Saudi Arabia: This happened in Istanbul. We propose to put these 18 suspects on trial in Istanbul. Of course, this is something they can decide.
