A top Saudi official, implicated in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, presided over the torture of Loujain al-Houthal, a Saudi human rights activist, according to Houthal’s sister.
From Alia al-Houthal’s piece in The New York Times
Saud al-Qahtani, a top royal adviser, was present several times when Loujain was tortured, she said. Sometimes Mr. Qahtani laughed at her, sometimes he threatened to rape and kill her and throw her body into the sewage system. Along with six of his men, she said Mr. Qahtani tortured her all night during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.
The CIA has determined that Qahtani, former social media adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was involved in the disappearance of Khashoggi from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. His apparent role in tormenting a human rights activist further tarnishes the already dismal reputation of MBS in Washington.
