The family of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi has pardoned his killers.
Salah Khashoggi, one of Jamal Khashoggi’s two sons, tweeted: ‘If a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.’ He added that the family has chosen to forgive ‘those who killed our father, seeking reward from God almighty.’
The Khashoggi family’s pardon comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Under Saudi law, the families of murder victims have the option to grant clemency to perpetrators, often in exchange for a monetary payment known as ‘diyah’. It is unclear whether the Khashoggi family has requested any such compensation. The pardoning means Saudi courts can no longer condemn the assassins to capital punishment, although they are still likely to face lengthy prison sentences.