US court allows Saudi crown prince’s associates to turn over evidence in lawsuit
A recent ruling by a US court has given two top associates of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman until early November to start turning over any evidence in a lawsuit from a former senior Saudi intelligence official, Saad al-Jabri. Al-Jabri accuses Saudi Arabia of attempting to assassinate him in October 2018, a claim the kingdom denies.
The court’s decision is seen as a shift towards holding foreign powers accountable for rights abuses, a trend that has gained momentum in recent times. Al-Jabri’s lawsuit alleges involvement of key officials, including Saud al-Qahtani, in the plot against him. Al-Qahtani, who has been sanctioned by the Biden administration over his alleged role in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, denies any wrongdoing in both cases.
The ruling has raised hopes among rights groups and dissidents that US courts may once again provide a platform to seek justice for abuses committed by foreign governments. Al-Jabri’s son, Khalid, expressed optimism that the lawsuit will not only benefit recent victims but also deter oppressive regimes from engaging in transnational repression on US soil.