The death sentences handed down by a Saudi court to five anonymous men in the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul only add another level of infamy to the foul murder. The court was closed to all outsiders save a few diplomats sworn to secrecy, and the identities of the five condemned men and three others sentenced to prison were not made public. But then it is reasonable to assume that the goal was not to put on a convincing trial, much less a fair one. “Mockery,” “laughable lies” and “a sham” are only a few of the reactions from human rights experts and the Turkish government that followed the sentences. There is nothing to show that Prince Mohammed has been humbled by the global outcry over the murder, as he has continued to crack down against any sign of dissent in his kingdom.

Source: International New York Times December 26, 2019 23:26 UTC