Politics
Who was Jamal Khashoggi? Journalist and critic of Saudi Arabia’s government
SAUDI Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed after he entered the Saudi consulate in Turkey on October 2, 2018.
Journalist Jamal Khashoggi had not been seen since entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018[/caption]
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?
On October 23, 2018, it was claimed the dismembered body of Khashoggi had been found in the Saudi consul’s garden.
The circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s death sparked controversy, with global leaders blasting the Saudi government’s version of events.
Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul shortly after 1pm on October 2, 2018.
He wanted to obtain a document certifying he had divorced his ex-wife so that he could marry his Turkish fiancée Cengiz.
CCTV broadcast on Turkish TV shows Footage of Jamal Khashoggi entering the Saudi consulate after 1pm on 2 October 2018[/caption]
She waited outside – and never saw him again. Cengiz later revealed that he had told her to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not return.
The Saudi government remained silent for nineteen days, before claiming he died during a fight inside the Saudi consulate.
On February 26, 2021, an intelligence report made public by the Biden administration claimed that the Prince “approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.”
The report lists 21 individuals who US intelligence services claim they have “high confidence” were complicit in Mr Khashoggi’s death.
Salman has previously accepted “full responsibility” as the killing “was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government” – but has maintained he was ignorant of any plans.
On November 11, 2018, Erdogan revealed recordings related to Khashoggi’s death have been passed on to Saudi Arabia, the US, UK, Germany and France.
What did the intelligence report say?
On February 26, 2021, a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that was made public by the Biden administration stated Salman “approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.”
The report stated Salman saw Khashoggi “as a threat and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him.”
It is not immediately clear what steps the Biden administration will take following the report.
“I think there are a range of actions that are on the table,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in February 2021.
Before the report was released, Biden spoke with King Salman of Saudi Arabia – but it was not immediately made public if the report was discussed.
The New York Times reported Biden would not discipline Salman after the report was made public.
Who was Jamal Khashoggi and what was his background?
Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian journalist, columnist, author and former editor-in-chief of Al Arab news.
He was born in Madinah, on October 13, 1958.
Jamal earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana State University in 1982 and 25 years later, started work as a columnist for the Washington Post.
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He was engaged to marry Hatice Cengiz, 39.
Khashoggi is the grandson of Muhammad Khashsoggi, who married the personal physician to King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He is also a first cousin of Dodi Fayed, who dated Diana Princess of Wales when they were both killed in a Paris car crash.
The 59-year-old had more than 1.6million Twitter followers and was known as an outspoken and high-profile critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He lived in self-imposed exile in the US after a number of his friends were arrested.
