Iran Press/ Europe: French foreign ministry in a statement said on Thursday, the country had imposed sanctions, including travel bans, on 18 Saudi citizens linked to the murder of "Jamal Khashoggi", and said more could follow depending on results of an investigation.
"The murder of Mr. Khashoggi is a crime of extreme gravity, which moreover goes against freedom of the press and the most fundamental rights," the ministry statement said, Reuters reported.
"France expected a transparent, detailed and exhaustive response from Saudi authorities," it said.
The statement did not name the individuals, but said that the move was in coordination with European partners, notably Germany. Berlin on Monday also banned 18 Saudis and moved to halt all arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
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The bans bind all members of the European Union’s passport-free Schengen zone, it said.
Khashoggi, 59, an outspoken critic of Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, disappeared after he entered the Saudi diplomatic mission in the Turkish city on October 2 to complete some paperwork for his forthcoming marriage.
However, as diplomatic pressure grew tremendously on Riyadh to give an account on the mysterious fate of its national, in an unexpected statement last month, Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb admitted that Khashoggi had been killed in a “premeditated” attack in the consulate.
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Earlier this month, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan said the ill-fated journalist had been strangled upon his arrival in the consulate, and then his body was dismembered and destroyed.
In Oct 16, 2018, Turkish media based on first audio leaks reported that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed by being gradually dismembered by a Saudi assassination squad tied to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside Saudi consulate.
Jamal Khashoggi audio leaks shows he was killed within minutes of entering Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi's deputy public prosecutor said on Nov. 15 that Riyadh was seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects charged with Khashoggi’s killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.
Yet, French reaction has been relatively prudent given it is keen to retain its influence with Riyadh and protect commercial relations spanning energy, finance and weapons sales.
"It (France) recalls its opposition, in all places and in all circumstances, to the death penalty," the ministry said.
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron dodged questions on whether Paris would follow Germany in suspending arms sales to Riyadh.
A visibly irritated Macron told reporters that "This has nothing to do with what we're talking about. Nothing. So I won’t answer that question. I'm sorry but as long as I'll be in office this is how it will be, whether people like it or not."
Macron has sought to deflect criticism over French arms sales to Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi's murder last month.
Riyadh is the second-biggest purchaser of French arms, and between 2008-2017 penned deals worth $12.6 billion for tanks, armored vehicles and ammo. 101/207
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