The recent death appears to be an act of barbarity resulting from Saudi Arabia's oppressive politics. The crackdown on the expression of opinions critical of the country's establishment cannot possibly be tolerated. Thorough efforts should be made to uncover the truth behind the incident.
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in a Saudi consulate general in Turkey, Saudi authorities have announced. Their explanation was that his death resulted from a "fistfight" with persons who were in the building. Eighteen people involved in the case have been detained, the authorities said.
On Oct. 2, Khashoggi, who had criticized the Saudi monarchy from his base of operations in the United States, entered the consulate general and was thereafter never heard from again. Turkish authorities investigated the case, believing there was a high possibility that he had been killed inside the building, and they reportedly obtained an audio recording of the murder.
At first, the Saudi government insisted that Khashoggi left the building soon after arriving. Backed into a corner by the Turkish investigations and media reports, however, the Saudi government may have had no choice but to admit his death. It cannot avoid a loss of international trust.
At whose direction did the murder and the ensuing cover-up take place, and to what extent was the killing premeditated? How was his body disposed of? The Saudi government must answer the questions held by the international community.
The problem is that the Saudi government's explanations did not include any reference to whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who possesses enormous power, was involved. King Salman has dismissed a high-ranking intelligence agency official and others, and he has ordered the reorganization of the agency. It is easy to see an ulterior motive of bringing the uproar to an end swiftly, by emphasizing that the case was the result of rogue actions by the intelligence agency.
U.S. must reconsider strategy
The crown prince is said to be virtually running the kingdom in place of the aged king. He has been spearheading economic reforms aimed at ending his nation's dependence on oil and the promotion of women's advancement in society. On the other hand, he has long been criticized for his coercive approach, as shown by his detention of political rivals and breaking off diplomatic relations with Qatar.
One after another, Cabinet members and top corporate officials from various countries have canceled their attendance at an international investment conference to be held in Saudi Arabia. If the turmoil arising from the incident drags on, investment in the country will be sluggish, and reform efforts will stagnate.
"There's been deception and ... lies," U.S. President Donald Trump has said of the Saudi announcement.
Many believe that Saudi Arabia's oppressive rule has been exacerbated by Trump's full support for that nation, as the United States and Saudi Arabia share common ground in looking upon Iran as an enemy. The United States should reconsider its strategy so it can contribute to the stability of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East as a whole.
Needless to say, in the background of this unprecedented incident was Saudi Arabia's lack of such things as the rule of law, human rights and free speech.
Khashoggi's "last column" published in a U.S. newspaper after the incident was titled "What the Arab world needs most is free expression." It is hoped that the latest case will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of supporting democratization in the Middle East.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22, 2018)
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