Al Jazeera Net documentary: This is why bin Salman took responsibility for the killing of Khashoggi

Mohamed Minshawi - Washington

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has never spoken about the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi, and has never admitted to taking responsibility for it in his reign, before mentioning it to American journalist Martin Smith.

The PBS network released a two-hour documentary on October 1, on the eve of the first anniversary of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which includes a conversation between Smith and Mohammed bin Salman about the killing. Khashoggi.

Al Jazeera Net held a telephone interview with the famous broadcaster Martin Smith, and Smith told Al Jazeera Net that the film may become available before the date of television broadcast on the Internet, and YouTube on Friday 27 or Saturday 28 September.

An untidy encounter
Smith told Al Jazeera Net that he met the Saudi crown prince for the first time in 2017, and stayed with him for more than an hour and a half, and spoke with the Saudi crown prince on many issues.

The second time came without prior arrangement. It was at a motor racing circuit outside Riyadh. It was last December. Smith stated that he was talking about another matter, and that Mohammed bin Salman initiated the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The Covenant seemed willing to talk about the killing, and what is said about his role. "

It was the first time Mohammed bin Salman mentioned that he "bears all responsibility because it happened while I was in power." Smith believes the Saudi crown prince felt under great pressure at the time.

According to Smith, Mohammed bin Salman did not talk about what is meant to take responsibility, and did not expect Smith, as he explained to Al Jazeera Net - to be charged directly to the Crown Prince and subjected to trial, but questioned the fate and trial of Saud al-Qahtani, who is the mastermind of the killing, who disappeared nor One knows his fate.

Smith tried to communicate after meeting with the crown prince at the circuit with the Saudi royal court for a longer televised interview with the crown prince, but received no responses.

A few weeks ago, Smith told Mohammed bin Salman that the BBC would broadcast a long documentary about him, stating the date of the show (October 1), and replying with a text message that contained no objection or request not to broadcast the film. The royal court did not ask to watch the film before it was aired.

"I don't know what the crown prince or the Saudi royal court will react to," Smith said.

The content of the film
Smith explained that the film presents the story and trajectory of Mohammed bin Salman's rise to the crown prince, his role in the Yemen war and the conflict with Qatar, as well as his relationship with dissidents, especially women activists who were arrested during his reign and tortured.

It also addresses Mohammed bin Salman's economic reforms and his 2030 economic vision, Smith said.

It will include dialogues with Saudi ministers, including Adel al-Jubeir and Prince Turki al-Faisal, as well as former CIA officials, former diplomats such as Martin Indyk, a Turkish journalist who worked closely with Khashoggi's murder, as well as Saudi activists.

All his requests to meet with officials from the Trump administration have been ignored or rejected.

Smith believes that the split of the US government in its response to the killing may prompt the start of official US investigations after the end of President Trump's rule, especially since the "CIA" ended a conclusion confirming the responsibility of the Saudi crown prince for the killing.

Smith expressed surprise at the official Saudi side about the size of the US and international interest in the killing of Khashoggi, "They want to turn this page and put behind them, but they can not achieve it."