A memorial service for Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was held at the US Congress in Washington on Friday, marking the 100th anniversary of his assassination at his consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
A number of lawmakers from the Republican and Democratic parties, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, said that Khashoggi’s murder was „not only a crime against him but a crime against humanity and an encroachment on American values and the values of democracy.“
„If we decide in this case that our business interests go beyond our values, we have lost our moral authority … the commercial interests and the strategic location of a country should not affect its democratic values,“ she said.
„This meeting for Khashoggi sends a message to Saudi Arabia that we will not stand idly by,“ Senator Chris van Hollen said.
„We hope that Congress sends a strong message to Saudi Arabia that we will demand full accountability for Khashoggi’s killers,“ he said.
Representative Mark Warner also noted that he had not heard from the White House any statements defending press freedom during the current administration.
In turn, Republican Rep. Steve Shabout said Jamal Khashoggi was „an independent voice calling for reform.“ Rep. Tom Malinowski said that „Khashoggi’s killers must be held accountable, otherwise this would mean that Saudi Arabia controls the United States.“
For his part, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives Eliot Ingel that Khashoggi’s killers should be held accountable, and that the protection of journalists will be a priority for his committee.
„In contrast to the divisions between the two parties on the issue of government closure and the wall, there is a complete consensus in Congress to condemn those responsible for the killing of Khashoggi on the 100th anniversary of his assassination,“ al-Jazeera correspondent Mohamed al-Menshawi said.
Al-Menshawi pointed out that many of the House and Senate members of the ruling Republican Party have pledged to hold accountable those responsible for Khashoggi’s death. „Some of them also deny Trump’s position, which preferred trade deals and money to American principles.“
„There is today a very clear message to Saudi Arabia that the issue is not over in Washington. The issue is there and there is a great determination among members of Congress to get to the heart of the truth and prosecute the officials,“ he said.
