22 October 2018•Update: 22 October 2018
By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday condemned the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Speaking at the House of Commons in the latest European Council meeting, May urged the parliament to join her in the condemnation.
“I am sure the whole House [of Commons] will join me in condemning the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in the strongest possible terms,” she said.
“We must get to the truth of what happened,” she said, adding that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt would make a statement Monday evening.
Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was pleased because the prime minister has condemned the “horrific murder” of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Corbyn also questioned the U.K.’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
“Condemnation… is not enough,” he said.
“What matters now is what action the government is prepared to take. Will they now end the arms sales to Saudi Arabia?" Corbyn asked.
Scottish National Party leader in Westminster Ian Blackford also urged May to take action against Saudi Arabia.
“Stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and do it today,” he said.
