ARGENTINIAN PROSECUTORS CONSIDER CHARGES AGAINST CROWN PRINCE Prince Mohammed bin Salman Context Preliminary examination in Argentina into alleged complicity in war crimes and torture committed in Saudi Arabia Suspect Crown prince and deputy prime minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Country of residence of suspect Saudi Arabia Charges War crimes; torture and inhuman treatment in violation of the 1984 Convention against Torture Developments in 2018 On 26 November, the international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) filed a denunciation with the Argentine Federal Prosecutor in anticipation of Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Buenos Aires for the G20 Summit. The submission asks the Argentine authorities to investigate Mohammed bin Salman’s role in war crimes allegedly committed by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, as well as in acts of torture and ill treatment of Saudi nationals, including the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. On 28 November 2018, a federal prosecutor formally requested inquiries into whether the allegations are being investigated elsewhere, and into Mohammed bin Salman’s diplomatic status and immunities. On the same day, the competent federal investigating judge sent information requests to the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, to the International Criminal Court and to the Argentine Foreign Ministry. Current status Preliminary examination, pending the opening of an official judicial investigation Facts On 25 March 2015, an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched air strikes against the armed group of Houthis in Yemen, triggering a major armed conflict. For three years, Yemen has been ravaged by a war that has already killed more than 10,000 people, half of whom are civilians. Mohammed bin Salman was appointed Minister of Defense on 23 January 2015. One of his first acts was to launch the military campaign in Yemen along with other Arab states. UN bodies and human rights groups have denounced the widespread violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed in Yemen. Alleged violations include deliberately targeting civilians, the use of illegal cluster-munitions, indiscriminate airstrikes and a naval blockade which deprived civilians of access to basic necessities. The complaint denounces alleged violations of international law committed during the armed conflict in Yemen as well as sexual harassment and torture, including electrocution and flogging of Saudi citizens. 15 The complaint also denounces his alleged role in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, who was killed on 2 October 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi authorities deny any involvement of the Crown Prince. Turkish and US intelligence agencies found the murder to have been premeditated and ordered by Mohammed bin Salman himself. OTHER PENDING CASES • The Paraguayan community case: closed in 2017 indigenous proceedings