JEDDAH — One year on, the Jamal Khashoggi's incident continues to be used by Saudi Arabia's "opponents and enemies" to tarnish the Kingdom's image despite stringent efforts to bring the culprits to book. In a recent interview with CBS "60 Minutes", when asked about Khashoggi's killing, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman said, " This was a heinous crime. But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government." But states and people just want to pillory Saudi Arabia by stoking this incident repeatedly without considering the actions taken by the government to get to the root of the issue. They are making the issue as much about an individual as about targeting the Kingdom. People here considered the Khashoggi killing as a great tragedy and a criminal act committed by members of the country's government sectors, who acted outside of their authority. This fact was once again reiterated by Khashoggi's son Salah, who said on Monday that he would not accept the exploitation of his father's case by his country's "opponents and enemies." "A year has passed since the death of my beloved father. During that time, my country's opponents and enemies east and west sought to exploit his case, may he rest in peace, to harm my country and leadership," tweeted Salah Khashoggi. Following the incident, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman ordered an investigation into the case that resulted in the arrest of a number of suspects for participating in or planning the crime. Eleven individuals were charged by the Public Prosecutor and are on trial. The Kingdom has taken all necessary measures following the murder of Khashoggi, through several tracks, including instituting the judicial process by referring all those involved in committing the crime to the judiciary system. They include a regulatory process of restructuring the General Intelligence Presidency, as well as relieving a number of officials, named during the investigation, from their positions so that the Public Prosecution could investigate them and record their statements. The judiciary of the Kingdom is independent, and no one can interfere in its actions and judgments. The Public Prosecution is committed to full transparency in its statements on the issue of Khashoggi, to the extent permitted by the justice systems. The Kingdom enforced the law and began to try the accused in the presence of representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. It was also attended by a representative of Turkey, in addition to the presence of representatives those of Saudi human rights organizations. The presence of representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council, as well as Turkey, the Human Rights Commission and the National Society for Human Rights, and a representative from the Khashoggi family during at the hearings of the accused indicates that the Kingdom has nothing to hide in this case. It is clear to all that some countries and regional parties, hostile to the Kingdom, are trying to use this case for political gains while sullying the Kingdom's image. The last thing these countries and vested parties want is justice following a fair trial in this case. Those who are seeking justice in the Jamal Khashoggi case should submit all proofs and evidence they have to the Public Prosecution, and wait for the final verdict of judiciary, which has held so far 8 hearings in the case. It is regrettable that Turkey, whose officials and media are skeptical of Saudi authorities' handling of the murder of Khashoggi case, is the same country that has refused to respond to requests from the Public Prosecution to provide it with information and evidence for use in investigating those involved in the crime. The Kingdom will continue with the proceedings of the Khashoggi case, until it reaches a conclusion following a normal judicial process. Regional countries hostile to the Kingdom have been working with some entities and organizations that classify themselves as the "protectors of human rights" to exploit Khashoggi case's, with the aim of to targeting the Kingdom and its leadership by broadcasting false allegations, and by questioning the integrity, justice and independence of the Saudi judiciary. The report of Agnes Callamard, the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions of the Human Rights Council, on the killing of Khashoggi was based on media reports, so it was not neutral or objective. It was a mere analysis of the case and the conclusions display clear contradictions and prejudices towards the Kingdom. Callamard is known for her hostile attitude towards the Kingdom. On the third day after the tragic incident, she began to publish tweets accusing the Kingdom of being responsible for the killing. It is important to note that her report was not originally mandated by the UN. Jamal Khashoggi's son, Salah while calling out the Kingdom's detractors should stop exploiting the case for their own interest, stressed that like his father he was a loyal son of Saudi Arabia. "I repeat what I have said in the past, I have absolute confidence in Saudi Arabia's judiciary, in its ability to give justice and find the perpetrators of this heinous crime. And I will be as Jamal Khashoggi was, loyal to God, then to my country and its leadership," said Salah.
