On November 15, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against 17 Saudis for their alleged involvement in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The sanctions were made public few hours following Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor said he was seeking the capital punishment for 5 people suspected of being involved in the death of the journalist in Istanbul.
Magnitsky Act sanctions include such well-known personalities of the kingdom as Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi and a senior Saudi official Maher Mutreb.
Mr. Mutreb is alleged to have coordinated the murder.
“The Saudi officials we are sanctioning targeted and viciously killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States. They must face consequences for their actions,” Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, said in a statement.
“The U.S continues to carry out investigations to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi’s fiancée, children, and the family he leaves behind.”
The Saudi prosecutor’s office stated that Jamal Khashoggi was murder following a fight in the consulate. He was injected with a lethal sedative and then his body was chopped up and provided to a local collaborator, according to the prosecution.
It should be noted that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, said that the killing was ordered at the “the highest levels” of the Saudi government.