US decision not to punish crown prince puts us in grave danger, Saudi exiles say

Dissidents decry lack of sanctions for Mohammed bin Salman over Khashoggi killing and warn of permanent impunity' for Saudi heir

Exiled dissidents who have been warned about threats against them by Saudi Arabia said they have been put in greater danger by the Biden administration's decision to forgo direct sanctions on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - even as US intelligence agencies acknowledged that he was complicit in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

The activists, including some who have previously been warned that they were possibly at risk of being hurt by agents of the kingdom, said in interviews with the Guardian that they believed the 35-year-old crown prince would be emboldened after the White House declined to sanction him.