A complaint for complicity in torture and enforced disappearance in connection with the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was filed Thursday in Paris against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), visiting France, announced two NGOs and their lawyer French.

The 42-page complaint claims that MBS "is an accomplice in the torture and enforced disappearance of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018" and that he "does not enjoy immunity from prosecution because, as as crown prince, he is not head of state”, specify Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), founded by the Saudi journalist, and Trial International in a press release.

An open judicial inquiry

The complaint with civil action was filed with the dean of the investigating judges of the Paris court on Thursday morning, said NGO lawyer Me Henri Thulliez.

This procedure leads to the quasi-systematic opening of a judicial inquiry and the appointment of an investigating judge.

“In application of the universal jurisdiction made possible by the conventions against torture and enforced disappearances, the French courts are competent to open a judicial investigation against any suspect who is on national territory at the time the complaint is filed. filed", regardless of where the crimes reported were committed, added the lawyer.

Visit of MBS in France

As a first step, French justice must ensure France's jurisdiction, the imputability of the facts to the person concerned and the existence or not of immunity for the latter before initiating investigations.

Emmanuel Macron is due to receive MBS, de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom, on Thursday for a "working dinner" scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at the Elysée.

The presence in France of the crown prince, for whom this is the first visit to Europe since the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, has aroused the great anger of human rights defenders.

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