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Last Updated on December 16, 2022.

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Policy Director Sam Ratner released the following statement in response to the State Department’s opinion that MbS has head-of-state immunity in the court case brought by the family and colleagues of Jamal Khashoggi:

“The statement of interest sent by the U.S. Department of State to the District of Columbia court declaring Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), ‘immune’ in the case against him for murdering Washington Post journalist and activist Jamal Khashoggi is a travesty of justice. This decision is particularly frustrating given that President Biden campaigned on accountability for MbS.

“The U.S. government has already concluded that the Saudi dictator is responsible for Khashoggi’s murder. Yet this decision allows him to escape judicial accountability for the killing, just as he has avoided accountability for detaining human rights activists, increasing oil prices in order to fund Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and undermine U.S. elections, and for a failed and violent military intervention in Yemen. 

“Hatice Cengiz, wife of Jamal Khashoggi who filed the suit against MbS, said that, with this decision, Khashoggi died again today. The U.S. government should not make itself an obstacle in her pursuit of justice.”

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Win Without War is a diverse network of activists and national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in the United States. 

 

November 18, 2022