"We, the sons of martyr Jamal Khashoggi, announce that we forgive those who killed our father," wrote Salah Khashoggi, son of former Washington Post reporter, on Twitter.

"During this sacred night of this sacred month [of Ramadan], we remember the words of God saying: 'If a person forgives and is reconciled, his reward is due by Allah,'" he added.

The legal consequences of this announcement by Salah Khashoggi, who resides in Saudi Arabia, are still unknown.

Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist critical of the Saudi regime after being close to it, was assassinated and his body cut into pieces on October 2, 2018 at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul where he went to retrieve a document.

According to Turkey, Khashoggi was strangled, and his body was dismembered during a mission operated by a team of fifteen people. The 59-year-old editorialist's remains have never been found.

After denying the assassination and then putting forward several contradictory versions, the authorities in Riyadh claimed that it had been committed by Saudi agents who had acted alone and without orders from senior leaders.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, was chosen by Turkish and American officials to be the sponsor of the murder. He later stated that he was responsible for the murder, but denied knowing it before it was committed.

Two relatives of MBS prosecuted by Turkish justice

After an opaque trial in Saudi Arabia, five Saudis were sentenced to death and three sentenced to prison terms. Eleven people had been charged.

Salah Khashoggi, the journalist's son, said he had "full confidence" in the Saudi judicial system, criticizing opponents who he said were seeking to exploit the case.

The Washington Post wrote in April 2019 that the children of the murdered journalist, including Salah, had received multi-million dollar homes and were paid thousands of dollars a month by the authorities. The family then denied.

A month ago, Turkish justice launched proceedings against twenty people including two close to MBS, ex-adviser Saoud al-Qahtani and the former intelligence number two, General Ahmed al-Assiri, identified as the sponsors of the murder.

With AFP

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