US judge dismisses lawsuit against Saudi Crown Prince in Khashoggi murder case

A lawsuit accusing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of taking part in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoghi was dismissed by a US judge on Tuesday.

 

Federal Judge John Bates' ruling was in line with the US administration's position, which was that the Saudi crown prince, who "headed the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" since September, is protected by judicial immunity and cannot be tried in US courts because he is the leader of a foreign government.

 

The civil lawsuit brought forth by Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz, and his organization Dawn, according to Bates, contained "strong" arguments that Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for the murder of Khashoggi.