Germany demands ‘full transparency’ in Khashoggi case

By Ayhan Simsek</p> <p>BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Wednesday called on Saudi Arabia to ensure “full transparency” in the trial of Saudi officials behind the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.</p> <p>“We expect from the Saudi judiciary to ensure full transparency and compliance with the rule of law,” Christofer Burger, Germany’s deputy foreign ministry spokesman, said at a news conference in Berlin.</p> <p>“The German Embassy has sought to observe the trial, this has not been granted yet. We regret this,” Burger added.</p> <p>Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed by Saudi agents last October, shortly after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. </p> <p>Saudi Arabia initially denied any knowledge of Khashoggi’s whereabouts, claiming he left the diplomatic facility in good health the same day he went missing.</p> <p>But following a rising number of contradictions in its narrative, Riyadh sought to blame the journalist's death on a botched rendition operation being carried out by rogue agents.</p> <p>Turkey has sought the extradition of the Saudi citizens involved in the killing as well as a fuller accounting of the killing from Riyadh.</p> <p>The Saudi public prosecutor indicted 11 unnamed individuals in November last year, and secret court hearings began in January.