Saudi prince’s new title key to dodging lawsuit over killing

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WASHINGTON (AP) NOV,19 Six weeks ago, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman was frowned upon when he named his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as prime minister. But the move paid off on Thursday when the Biden administration said Prince Mohammed’s position as prime minister put him ahead of US lawsuits over US lawsuits.

S. His role was in the 2018 killing of a US-based journalist by Saudi officials, according to intelligence agencies.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby argued on Friday that the government’s declaration of immunity for Saudi Arabia’s crown prince was purely a “legal decision” and “has nothing to do with the issue itself.” of international law experts agreed with the government, but it was not until the end of September that a planned U.S. S decision.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel on Friday gave examples of past cases where the United States has granted immunity to governments or heads of state. The lawsuit was filed against the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and D.

His C. Base rights group he founded. Before and shortly after taking office, Mr Biden vowed to stand up to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince as part of rights- and values-based presidency. The Biden administration believes Saudi Arabia is too important to the global economy and regional security. , argues that the United States cannot withdraw from its decades-long partnership. But lawyers, some senior Democratic lawmakers, and Khashoggi’s newspaper, The Washington Post, condemned the government’s move on Friday. criticized. Cengiz and Khashoggi’s rights group, DAWN (Democracy for the Arab World Now), argued that the crown prince’s title change at the end of September was merely a ploy to escape the United States.

In court, without maintaining or altering any power or obligation. Saudi Arabia has blamed “ruthless” officials for Khashoggi’s murder.Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, as opposed to a constitutional monarchy like Britain, where a prime minister rather than a king or queen rules. Sarah Leah Whitson, head of Khashoggi’s rights group, said Friday’s change of title was “pretty pathetic”.

The Biden administration appeared to dismiss her group’s claims that Prince Mohammed’s recent title change violates current Saudi law and should be ignored.Some Western reports. The agency announced that King Salman, who is in his late 80s, will hand over responsibilities to Crown Prince Mohammed, 37, and temporarily hand over the title of prime minister. A federal judge ordered the United States

Until Thursday, he will comment on the crown prince’s claims that his reputation protects him in U.S. courts. At the time of the allegations, the lawyers hoped the government would remain silent and not comment in any way on Prince Mohammed’s immunity.

In contrast, the United States maintains full diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The State Department said Thursday that adhering to the principles of other government leaders will help other countries’ courts avoid trying to drag the U.S. president before them to answer a lawsuit. emphasized.