Pompeo: 21 Saudis to Lose US Visas over Khashoggi Murder

Local Editor

The US will punish those responsible for killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi by revoking visas and possibly imposing Global Magnitsky Act sanctions, said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Twenty-one Saudi citizens will have their US visas revoked or be declared ineligible for them as part of the response, the State Department said on Tuesday.

In a short press conference, Pompeo said the US was “exploring” the option of imposing sanctions as well.

“These penalties will not be the last word on the matter from the United States,” the US top diplomat said. “We're making very clear that the US does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence.”

The Saudi journalist who had permanent residence in the US was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey at the beginning of October.

For two weeks, Riyadh denied Turkish accusations that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, only to admit he died “in a fistfight” with several government officials who were reportedly sent to persuade him to return.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team