Saudi Arabia Rejects Turkey's Bid to Extradite Suspects in Khashoggi Case as Tensions Rise

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Saturday brushed aside Ankara's request to extradite the 18 men suspected of being involved in the murder, saying that they will be tried in Saudi Arabia, as international outrage mounts over the murder.

"The individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," al-Jubeir told a regional defense forum in Bahrain.

Media reported on Friday that Turkish prosecutors plan to seek the extradition of 18 suspects over the killing of Khashoggi. Anadolu Agency said on Friday the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office submitted its request to Turkey's justice ministry, adding that the foreign ministry would formally request the extraditions.

Al-Jubeir criticized the global outcry surrounding Khashoggi's killing as 'hysterical', stating that "the issue has become fairly hysterical. Investigations take time and facts should be determined as inquiries continue".

"We're trying to uncover what happened. We know that a mistake was committed. We know that people exceeded their authority and we know that we're investigating them," the top official said, adding that the kingdom has made it "very clear that those responsible will be held responsible".

After two weeks of denial by Saudi officials, Riyadh confessed last Saturday that Khashoggi had been murdered by its security agents at the Istanbul consulate, but made no mention of where his body is. It also sacked a top general and arrested several people.

On Thursday, the Saudi Public Prosecutor stated that the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Riyadh consulate in Turkish city of Istanbul in early October was premeditated.

"The Public Prosecution received information from the Turkish side through the Joint Task Force between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey indicates that the suspects in the incident had carried out their act with a prior intention," a statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency read.

"The Public Prosecutor's Office continues its investigations with the accused in the light of what has been reported and the results of its investigations to reach the facts and complete the course of justice," it noted.

It comes days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the killing of Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate was "planned" and “brutal” murder, asking Riyadh to extradite the 18 arrested suspects to Turkey to face justice for the crime.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also reiterated on Thursday that everyone involved in the Saudi writer's killing should be investigated and tried to Turkey.

Turkey has ramped up pressure on Saudi Arabia over the murder of Khashoggi, demanding Riyadh reveal who gave the order to kill the journalist in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul.

"If you are determined to lift this shroud of mystery, then this is the key point of our collaboration," Erdogan said in a speech on Friday in the capital Ankara, adding that Turkish authorities have gathered more evidence, which will be made public "when the time comes".

He said he suspected Khashoggi's killer is among the 18 men arrested by Saudi Arabia in connection to the case and called on the kingdom's authorities to identify the "local collaborator" whom they say disposed of the journalist's body.

"These 18 people know who killed Khashoggi. There is no other explanation for this. Because the perpetrator is among them. If the perpetrator is not among them, then who is the local collaborator?" Erdogan asked, adding that "you have to announce it".

Erdogan branded the kingdom's various explanations for Khashoggi's disappearance and death as "childish statements do not go hand in hand with statesmanship or seriousness of a state".

Khashoggi, known for his criticism of Saudi Arabia's policies, went missing on October 2 after entering the kingdom consulate in Istanbul to obtain a marriage document. Ankara has accused Riyadh of murdering the Khashoggi and smuggling his body out of the consulate in pieces.

Three weeks after the Saudi writer vanished, the details of his killing are still murky and the cause of his death is unknown. Officials in Riyadh have come up with shaky explanations for Khashoggi's demise; first stressing that he left the consulate alive, then stating that he was killed accidentally in a fistfight, and finally alleging a "rogue operation" unbeknownst to the Saudi rulers.

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