WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) The Trump administration failed to take a strong stand over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by excluding Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from a list of new sanctions, Human Rights First's Senior Vice President for Policy Rob Berschinski said in a press release on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the US Treasury Department under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act sanctioned 17 individuals, including the head of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where Khashoggi was killed on October 2.
"Treasury Secretary Mnuchin's message seems to leave room for additional sanctions and other accountability measures for other Saudi officials who played a role in Khashoggi's killing, but in isolation today's action is the minimum response to such an egregious act," the release said. "In failing to sanction the crown prince or members of his inner circle... the administration isn't taking a particularly strong stand in terms of accountability."
The Saudi Prosecutor General's Office in a statement earlier on Thursday said it is seeking the death penalty for five individuals involved with the Khashoggi incident.
Saudi officials initially claimed Khashoggi, who was a Washington Post columnist, left the consulate unharmed only to later claim he was killed in a rogue operation. The royal family denied any role in the incident.
US President Donald Trump came under fire for not taking more immediate action against Riyadh over Khashoggi's death. Trump repeatedly said he did not want to jeopardize some $110 billion in US arms sales to the kingdom which he said would generate around 500,000 jobs. However, major US defense contractors have admitted the deal will only create around 500 American jobs.
