—salah khashoggi (@salahkhashoggi) May 21, 2020
The statement begins by referencing a verse in the Quran that discusses the pardoning of evil acts and rewards for forgiveness.
It then states: "Therefore, we the children of martyr Jamal Khashoggi announce we forgive and pardon those who killed our father, may he rest in peace, for the sake of God almighty and for the hope of God's reward."
CNN reported, that under Saudi law, "a pardon from a son of a murder victim serves as a legal reprieve." Out of 11 people who were put on trial for Khashoggi's murder, five government agents were convicted last December, and three others involved in the case were handed prison sentences.
Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz slammed the family's response, saying that his killers should not be forgiven.
—Hatice Cengiz / خديجة (@mercan_resifi) May 22, 2020
"Jamal was killed inside his country's consulate while getting the docs to complete our marriage," she tweeted. The killers came from Saudi with premeditation to lure, ambush & kill him. Nobody has the right to pardon the killers. We will not pardon the killers nor those who ordered the killing."
She continued: "His ambush and heinous murder does not have a statute of limitations and no one has the right to pardon his killers. I and others will not stop until we get #JusticeForJamal."
Salah Khashoggi was photographed shaking the crown prince's hand in a highly-publicized photo-op and has met with the Saudi king. Last year, he released a statement thanking Prince Mohammed for his generosity and humanity.
While Cegniz has actively campaigned for justice in Khashoggi's killing, his family members have made few public appearances and have not spoken out against the Saudi government.
According to The Washington Post, Khashoggi's children are barred from leaving Saudi Arabia and are being compensated for their father's death with large sums of money and expensive houses.
