French judiciary opens formal investigation into Khashoggi assassination

PARIS, May 16 (YPA) – The French National Antiterrorism Prosecutor’s Office announced Saturday the appointment of a judge to lead an official investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, following a ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal to accept complaints filed by Trial International and Reporters Without Borders.

The prosecutor’s office specified that the new judicial investigation involves charges of torture and enforced disappearance. Conversely, it noted the dismissal of a separate complaint previously filed by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), an organization founded by Khashoggi.

This French move opens a new legal front in a case where prior international judicial pathways have stalled. Turkey transferred its trial proceedings to Riyadh in 2022, while a US federal court dismissed a civil lawsuit following the former Biden administration’s decision to grant immunity to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after his appointment as prime minister.

French law grants judges the authority to investigate certain serious crimes committed abroad, though initiating prosecutions generally requires the suspects to be present on French territory.

YPA