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Argentine prosecutors are planning to prosecute Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for war crimes and torture as he travels to Buenos Aires for the G20 summit this week.
This decision came after the rights group Human Rights Watch wrote to a federal prosecutor inviting the Argentine courts to invoke a law of universal jurisdiction in Argentine law to prosecute Prince Mohammed following mbadive civil lawsuits by the court. Yemen-led coalition campaign and for the torture of Saudi citizens, including Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2nd.
The decree submitted by Human Rights Watch was received by federal judge Ariel Lijo, who forwarded it to federal prosecutor Ramiro González.
The prosecutor must now decide whether the principle of universal jurisdiction, enshrined in the constitution of Argentina, applies in the case of the Crown Prince.
Judicial sources have reported that the likelihood of this happening "is very difficult," Clarín reported, adding that the killing of Khashoggi may not be labeled a "crime against human rights". However, HRW's submission is based on a variety of forms of torture and military operations in Yemen.
Since March 2015, the "Saudi coalition has conducted dozens of indiscriminate and disproportionate air strikes on civilians and civilian objects in Yemen, striking houses, schools, hospitals, markets and mosques," according to a statement from HRW . "Many of these attacks – if carried out with criminal intent – indicate possible war crimes. The coalition also imposed and maintained a maritime and air blockade against Yemen, which has significantly limited the flow of food, fuel and medicines to civilians. Millions of civilians are facing hunger and disease. "
A source in President Mauricio Macri's office on Monday refused to comment on Prince Mohammed's arrest request to land on Argentine soil.
"We can not comment on that. All we can say is that the presence of Mohammed bin Salman remains confirmed, we have received no information to the contrary so far, "said the source at the Guardian.
But a spokesman for Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said that it would be unlikely that the attempt would succeed.
"We do not believe that Human Rights Watch's presentation in court will flourish. Mohammed bin Salman will be protected by diplomatic immunity and he also travels in his official status as a representative of a foreign head of state.
"In addition, cases involving diplomatic immunity can only be decided by the Supreme Court and her visit will be too short for her to reach the court. For the moment, its presence will proceed as planned. The case is in the hands of the court and the government will not interfere, "the spokesman said.
Kenneth Roth, executive director of HRW, said in a written statement: "The Argentine prosecution authorities should take a close look at the role of Mohammed bin Salman in possible war crimes committed by the Saudi coalition since 2015 in Yemen.
"The presence of the crown prince at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires could make Argentine courts a means of redress for victims of abuse who can not seek justice in Yemen or Saudi Arabia."
The prince is on the guest list for the two – day summit that begins Friday, and Donald Trump is said to be ready to meet him, despite growing opposition to the US 's military support for Congress. Saudi Arabia and its campaign of aerial bombardment and economic strangulation in Yemen. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people have already been killed in the war and the charity Save the Children said that another 85,000 children could have starved.
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