Justice revives

The Khashoggi murder was committed in Türkiye but soon became a matter for the whole world. The interest and questions that began with Khashoggi's entering the Saudi Arabian consulate and never coming out have been the world's most important agenda item for 22 days. During this process the world has been trying to follow all the details of the event with great curiosity.

The possibility of having savagely murdered one's own citizen inside a consulate building, whose reason for existence is to serve its citizens, is in itself terrifying, horrifying and just as intriguing. The dimensions of the event that concern international relations, balances and law of course bring everyone's different calculations into play in their approach to this event.

Every piece of information that emerges increases the interest even more, and triggers other questions instead of answering questions. In this process, Türkiye's way of informing the public and making it a partner in the problem has undoubtedly opened a very distinctive path.

The situation is delicate. Even if it is also regarded as another country's territory, Türkiye could not remain indifferent to such an event that took place within its own borders. For the sake of the existing good relations, it could not accept that such a multidimensional crime had been committed on its own soil.

But at the outset it was necessary to proceed without placing anyone under suspicion in advance. This is what legal reason required. It was of course not necessary to accuse anyone in advance, but there were prime suspects that had emerged, and it was not necessary to clear them in advance either.

The qualifications and all the connections of those who actually committed the murder were revealed and shared with the public. Because of the shared data, the case became, in almost all its dimensions, the property of the international public. No one could have the possibility of falling behind this shared data.

Türkiye is watched by the international public from the outset with great appreciation and admiration for its manner and mastery in managing the problem. After all, there is not just a murder here, there is an international crisis with global dimensions, and the responsibility and mastery Türkiye displays in managing this crisis without its sense of justice being damaged is voiced in the foreign media at every opportunity, but to that same degree every step it will take is awaited with great curiosity and widely commented on.

For that reason, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's group meeting yesterday was watched with rapt attention all over the world because of the statements he announced he would make on this matter. Every word out of the President's mouth was carefully recorded together with the tone of voice and the gestures and facial expressions with which he uttered it. We can say that our President once again let all his mastery speak with his quality as a responsible statesman. After laying out the conclusions reached regarding the murder and its before and after, he made the most careful and attentive call possible.

First of all, he shared the information that some consulate officials had come a day earlier and made reconnaissance in the Yalova and Belgrad Forests in connection with the murder process, which was something unknown until now and further reinforced the already existing information that this murder was committed in a planned and premeditated manner. Even where Khashoggi, who was planned to be killed, would be buried had been sought to be planned in advance.

Second, the President, openly criticizing the Saudi Arabian side's moves and statements so far that have misled the public regarding the event, voiced the questions that arise on the basis of the statements made at this stage: Did the 15+3 people act on their own? Is it possible for them to have done this action without receiving instructions from anyone? Why was so much effort expended to destroy or hide the body of Khashoggi, who is said to have been killed by accident? His body is said to have been handed over to a local collaborator, who is this person? Why is it not announced?

Third, the President, taking King Salman as the state's interlocutor in Saudi Arabia, tried to call him to establish justice, but also warned that placing the suspect to whom all the arrows point at the head of the investigation unit to investigate this event could not give a healthy result. Of course let no one be convicted in advance, but he made the warning, with reference to both modern law and Sharia law, that Prince MBS, who is known to have all the personnel involved in the event not take a single step without his knowledge, being in the investigating authority would in no way bring justice.

In fact, demanding this justice and fulfilling what it requires is definitely in Saudi Arabia's interest. For justice is the foundation of property, and therefore of the state.

In this event, the establishment of justice will be a matter directly identified with Saudi Arabia's problem of survival. It must rid itself of the structures that have tainted the state with these crimes and offenses, whatever level they may be at. A Saudi Arabia that does this will definitely, even if wounded by this event, emerge strengthened in the long run.

In fact, as a concrete step of this call that our President made addressing King Salman, accepting the request that the 15 persons arrested as the perpetrators of the event be tried in Türkiye should be regarded as an opportunity. King Salman should not shrink from taking this step. Both because the crime was committed within Türkiye's borders, this is Türkiye's right, and because Türkiye is not Saudi Arabia's enemy but its friend.

Not shying away from establishing justice even if it is against us and our relatives is the most important principle our book teaches us. Justice gives life. One must not hold back from answering an invitation that will give us life.