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The fiancee of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi criticized Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s controversial invitation to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
She stated that his participation at Her Majesty’s state funeral would’stain her legacy,’ a sentiment shared by campaigners who claim that MBS, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, is attempting to ‘whitewash’ his human rights record.
A declassified CIA dossier alleges that the Prince “authorized” the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
He recently stated that the journalist would not be among his top 1,000 targets to assassinate ‘if that’s how we conducted things’, angrily denying the allegations.
MBS is among the more than 500 foreign dignitaries and leaders of state invited to mourn Queen Elizabeth II on Monday at Westminster Abbey.
A cast of contentious statesmen, including Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, were invited to the event.
Saturday, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia stated that MBS will be traveling to London, but did not give any other information.
Officials have not confirmed whether or not the Prince would attend the funeral, although it is likely he will, considering that this is his first trip to Britain since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
On Monday, over 2,000 guests are anticipated to attend the Queen’s service, including world leaders, VIPs, and other royals. It is anticipated that 4,1 billion people will view the televised funeral, and that 2 million people will travel to the capital for the event.
The fiancee of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi criticized Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s (seen in July) controversial invitation to the burial of Queen Elizabeth II.
Hatice Cengiz (right) criticized the Saudi ruler’s invitation to the funeral, stating that he was seeking legitimacy and normalcy during a time of sadness. She is shown alongside her boyfriend Jamal Khashoggi (left)
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi, criticized the Saudi ruler’s invitation to the funeral, stating that he was using the grieving period to “seek legitimacy and normalcy.”
The demise of the Queen is a genuinely tragic event, she told The Guardian.
The crown prince should not be permitted to participate in this period of sorrow, nor should he be permitted to tarnish her legacy or use it to seek legitimacy and normalcy.
Advocacy groups across the United Kingdom mirrored her sentiments, arguing that the passing of Her Majesty is not the moment for “authoritarian tyrants” to attempt to “rehabilitate” their image.
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy’s Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei stated, “The United Kingdom should not welcome tyrants from countries notorious for their appalling human rights records.”
A declassified CIA dossier alleges that in 2018, the Prince “authorized” the murder and dismemberment of Mr. Khashoggi (shown) at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. He adamantly disputes the allegations and recently stated that the journalist would not be among his top 1,000 assassination targets if it were the case.
Although the leaders of Russia and Syria were not invited to the Queen’s funeral, it sends a clear message of double standards by inviting Gulf despots such as King Hamad and Mohammed bin Salman, who continue to preside over appalling human rights violations against those who dare to speak out in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The UK-based director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, stating, “Authoritarian dictators should not use the Queen’s death to attempt to rehabilitate their image while they escalate repressive campaigns in their countries.”
BBC stated that the UK-based Campaign Against the Arms Trade criticized Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchs for using the Queen’s burial to “whitewash” their human rights records.
CNN Arabic reported earlier this week that MBS will not attend the burial, citing his ‘fragile ego’ as a possible factor in his choice.
Abdullah Alaoudh, a Saudi dissident living in Washington, reportedly told a television network that MBS would be placed behind other influential persons at the event, which would annoy him.
Mr. Alaoudh stated that MBS wanted complete recognition of his power, his existence, and a seat in the front row. He places a high value on these symbols and does not wish to be embarrassed.
Additionally, as per convention, world dignitaries have been invited to take shuttle buses to Westminster Abbey rather than official cars or carriages.
Only US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill will be permitted to ride the armored Beast to the Queen’s funeral.
According to reports, several embassies have attempted unsuccessfully to request exceptions to Foreign Office instructions.
MBS is among the more than 500 international dignitaries and heads of state invited to attend the memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II (seen in 2013) at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
On Monday, over 2,000 guests are anticipated to attend the Queen’s service, including world leaders, VIPs, and other royals. On Sunday, the public is depicted passing by the Queen’s coffin as it lies in state at Westminster Abbey.
Reportedly, the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Myanmar were not invited to the Queen’s funeral, but a number of controversial personalities, like Erdogan and Bolsonaro, will attend the service in London.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has been invited, but his attendance is not expected. China’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged to The Wall Street Journal on Saturday that he instead dispatched Vice President Wang Qishan to represent him.
Several British parliamentarians submitted a letter to the House of Commons requesting that the invitation to President Xi be revoked, citing ‘grave concern’ over the invitation. In addition, they harshly criticized China for its treatment of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur people.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi also denied the offer to attend. The Guardian reports that India will instead be represented by President Droupadi Murmu.
On the day of the Queen’s death, hours before her sickness was known, PM Modi had urged India to sever its colonial links during a ceremony to rename a roadway that had been named for George V.
However, the leader called UK Prime Minister Liz Truss two days following Her Majesty’s passing to express his sympathies.
The Queen’s descendants (clockwise from front centre) Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Britain’s Princess Eugenie of York, Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain’s Princess Beatrice of York, Britain’s Lady Louise Windsor, and Zara Tindall hold a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s orb and scepter, lying in state on the cat
It is anticipated that 4,1 billion people will view the televised funeral, and that 2 million people will travel to the capital for the event. On Sunday, the casket of His Majesty, draped in the Royal Standard and crowned with the Imperial State Crown, was shown in Westminster Hall.
The public, covered in blankets, lines up along The Queens Walk near Tower Bridge on Sunday in order to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II as she lies in state in Westminster Hall.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the billionaire ruler of Dubai and a personal friend of Her Majesty, has not yet confirmed his attendance.
Prior to her demise, Her Majesty was under pressure to get rid of him because the High Court determined he was responsible for illegally accessing his wife’s phone in the United Kingdom.
A senior court found that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a friend of the Royal Family who enjoys horse racing and the prime leader of the United Arab Emirates, committed a “complete abuse of trust and power.”
In 2000, the court determined that he engineered the kidnapping of his fugitive daughter Princess Shamsa from Cambridgeshire. He allegedly kidnapped her sister, Princess Latifa, as she attempted to depart as well.
Tiina Jauhiainen, the best friend of Princess Latif, told MailOnline last week that the ruler of Dubai and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud must be ignored by Buckingham Palace and the British Government.
She stated, “I do not believe someone with his notoriety should be invited to the funeral of the Queen.”
“I sincerely hope that we will not be seeing MBS [the Crown Prince’s nickname] either.”
The Sheikh has not yet confirmed if he would attend Monday’s burial.