Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — France, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Arab League are among the nations and organizations that commended the statement of the Saudi Public Prosecution about the progress of investigations into the murder case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“The investigations conducted by Saudi Public Prosecution on Khashoggi's case proceed in the right direction while the suspects have been transferred to face justice,” according to a French statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll, said that the Saudi authorities’ announcement that the people arrested in connection with the investigations goes in the right direction, calling to disclose all proceedings transparently within the ongoing investigations.

Egypt lauded the actions taken by the Kingdom pertaining to the Khashoggi case, expressing the hope that all the concerned parties shall abide by the current course of the case away from politicization. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had followed with great interest the announcement by the judicial authorities in the Kingdom Thursday of the results of investigations into the murder of Khashoggi, which highlighted the seriousness of the Kingdom and its transparency in clarifying the truth.

The United Arab Emirates welcomed the findings released by Saudi Public Prosecutor on the investigation of the death of Khashoggi.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation valued the steps taken by the Kingdom towards the case as well as the measures taken to hold accountable those behind the murder.

“The measures taken corroborate the fact that Saudi Arabia will remain a state of values, and justice that respects the principles of law and justice,” said the statement.

The Ministry reaffirms that the findings confirm the continued and painstaking follow-up undertaken by the Saudi institutions concerned to ensure the safety of its citizens and update the public opinion and the international community on the facts related to the case. While reiterating its solidarity with Saudi Arabia in all the measures it is taking, the UAE reaffirms its rejection of any attempts to politicize or internationalize the case in a way that threatens the Kingdom's sovereignty and stability.

OIC, the pan Islamic body, also commended the statement issued by the Public Prosecution regarding the death Khashoggi. OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen said in a statement that the Saudi Prosecution has clearly answered the outstanding questions, charged the responsible parties, identified the roles of those involved in this crime and announced all that with transparency. He called for putting this case within its criminal framework and refraining from politicizing it, so that justice takes its normal course.

The Arab League pledged its support for the measures taken by the Kingdom as part of the investigations regarding the murder of Khashoggi in Turkey.

In an official statement issued on Thursday, the Arab League lauded the statement issued by the General Prosecutor in which he stated that it has filed charges against a number of accused that were previously detained on suspicion. The statement said such measures are seen as reflecting the great interest of the Kingdom to reach those responsible of committing the murder and take firm and decisive action against them.

The Arab League underscored the importance of meeting these measures with reciprocal seriousness from the Turkish side to provide evidence in this case and meet Saudi demands to form a joint mechanism for cooperation between the two countries in this regard.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani lauded the statement of the Public Prosecutor regarding the murder of Khashoggi. He said this confirms the Kingdom’s adherence to completing the necessary procedures to continue investigations in this criminal case away from politicization sought by some biased circles.

Al-Zayani said the firm measures taken by the concerned authorities in the Kingdom upon directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman since the occurrence of the crime, is yet another evidence of the keenness of the Kingdom to apply the principles of transparency and accountability in their capacity as a firm approach to unveil the details of the crime and prove that fairness and justice is the only platform to enforce law and bring about justice.