A fuss about the Russian spy assassination attempt will reveal Britain’s “hypocrisy” if it turns a blind eye on the likely killing of Khashoggi
The British News paper the Guardian reported on Wednesday about the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi case which has been described as a “critical test” of relations between London and Riyadh.
The newspaper said in an article posted on its website that “the rumors of a possible Saudi involvement in the kidnapping or killing Khashoggi, puts unprecedented pressure on the security and trade relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia”.
The Guardian article pointed out that these relations “was the cornerstone of British foreign policy towards Saudi Arabia”.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt had previously defended the relationship when he said it was keeping Britain safe and making its vault full.
“However Khashoggi’s case threatens to make this friendship unattractive”.
The article explained that the uproar raised by London over extrajudicial killings of Russian spy in the British city of Salisbury, and the escalation with Russia because of this, would reveal “hypocrisy” in British politics if this was to turn a blind eye to the possible killing of journalist Khashoggi.
The dilemma of Britain is exacerbated by the fact that Turkey expects other countries to condemn any violation of sovereignty, especially with the choice of London, stand with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, since the failed coup attempt in 2016.
On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Saudi Arabia that his country expected “urgent answers” to Khashoggi’s disappearance.
In a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir, Hunt stressed that “friendships (between countries) are based on common values”, according to the BBC.
The famous Saudi journalist disappeared after entering his consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
Khashoggi’s fiancée, Khadija Cengiz, told reporters that she accompanied him to the building of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and that the latter entered the building and did not leave.
The consulate denied this, saying that Khashoggi had visited, but left later.
The Turkish foreign ministry summoned for the first time the ambassador of Riyadh to Ankara, last Wednesday, a day after the disappearance of Khashoggi, before being summoned for the second time, last Sunday, for the same reason.
President Erdogan also asked Saudi consulate officials to prove Khashoggi’s exit by presenting video recordings.
Last Saturday, the Istanbul prosecutor announced an investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance.
