The US State Department has issued a statement this week announcing that 16 Saudi nations are to be barred from future entry into the United States over their roles in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi, a journalist and a permanent resident of the US, was murdered
in October at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, by a Saudi
Arabian “kill team.” The kill team is believed to have been among those
banned from entry in this new move.
This is the second time the US has made diplomatic moves against the
Saudis over the murder, revoking a number of visas and freezing the
assets of several people. The Saudis have at times denied murder
Khashoggi, but have also offered differing versions of events involving
the kill team showing up, something happening, and Khashoggi dying, only
for his body to go missing.
The State Department’s latest move comes amid growing Congressional
pushes for the administration to hold the Saudis accountable for the
killing. Though it is generally accepted internationally that the Saudi
crown prince ordered the murder, President Trump has rejected that idea,
citing concern of lost arms deals.
State Dept Bars 16 Saudis From Entering US Over Khashoggi Murder
Newly banned Saudis are suspected members of kill team
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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