Turkish opposition slams Saudi consul leaving Istanbul

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish main opposition lawmaker on Wednesday criticized the Saudi Consul General in Istanbul over leaving Turkey amid ongoing investigation of missing journalist.

Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad al-Otaibi left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources.

Al-Otaibi's departure came as Turkish and Saudi officials were preparing to search al-Otaibi's residence.

"The main reason behind the diplomatic immunity is to enable the consuls to perform their duty easily in accordance with the international criminal law,” Republican People’s Party deputy Mahmut Tanal told the reporters at the parliament.

The diplomatic immunity is not to kill people, Tanal added, asserting that the Saudi journalist is the victim of a planned murder.

Tanal said that the right to live is above all the others, including the right to travel.

Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2 when he was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post newspaper, has long been feared killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after he entered on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.

On the same day, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in the Turkish city on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was inside, Turkish police sources said.

All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

A joint Turkish-Saudi team has been investigating the disappearance, including through a search of the consulate with Saudi permission.