Disappearance of Prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
New allegations have emerge about Riyadh’s link to the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who went missing a week ago after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, intending to get paperwork that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancée.
According to a senior Turkish official who spoke to The New York Times, the 15-member Saudi intelligence team killed Khashoggi and dismembered his body with a bone saw inside the consulate in Istanbul, on orders from the highest levels of the royal court.
“It is like Pulp Fiction,” the official described.
The official described the situation in which Mr. Khashoggi was killed within two hours as a “quick and complex” operation.
Four top U.S. senators triggered an investigation Wednesday into the disappearance of a Saudi journalist under a U.S. law intended to hold human rights abusers to account.U.S. President Donald Trump has 120 days to report back to Sens. Bob Corker, Bob Menendez, Lindsey Graham and Patrick Leahy after they sent him a letter requesting a probe under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.Jamal Khashoggi has not been heard from since Oct. 2, when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, amid speculation that he was killed by Saudi authorities.In a letter, the minority and majority leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the leaders of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee responsible for the State Department called on Trump to determine whether imposing sanctions "with respect to any foreign person responsible for such a violation related to Mr. Khashoggi" is warranted."The recent disappearance of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi suggests that he could be a victim of a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights," the senators wrote in the letter, which was co-signed by a group of 18 bipartisan senators."Our expectation is that in making your determination you will consider any relevant information, including with respect to the highest ranking officials in the Government of Saudi Arabia," they added.The Magnitsky Act, passed in 2012 after a Russian whistleblower died in custody in circumstances that remain dubious, requires the president to conduct an investigation to determine if sanctions are warranted to respond to human rights abuses.Trump said earlier Wednesday that he spoke at the "highest" levels to Saudi officials about Khashoggi's disappearance but did not specify with whom he has been in conversation with.Addressing reporters at the White House, Trump said the U.S. will "get to the bottom of" the journalist's mysterious vanishing."I'm not happy about this. We have to see what happens," Trump said, adding that the U.S. has been in contact with Turkish officials about the case.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation on the fate of Khashoggi while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.According to his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi first arrived at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28. After being told his documents would be ready in a week, Khashoggi went to London and returned to Istanbul on Oct. 1.Khashoggi called the consulate and was told "that documents are being prepared" and he could come to the consulate. He went to the diplomatic building on Oct. 2 with Cengiz but was not seen after entering it.On the same day, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was also inside, police sources said.All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Trump discusses Khashoggi with senior Saudi leaderUS senator warns ‘hell to pay’ if Khashoggi murderedInvestigation for missing journalist will definitely reveal something, says Khashoggi's fiancéeEx-US energy secretary suspends role in Saudi projectSaudi prince allegedly sought to lure Khashoggi
US senators call for probe over missing Saudi columnist
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he discussed the disappearance of a Washington Post journalist with an unnamed senior Saudi leader at the "highest level.""It's a very serious situation for us and this White House," Trump told reporters at the White House, noting talks have taken place "more than once.""I think we'll get to the bottom of it," said Trump. "I'm not happy about this. We have to see what happens."Jamal Khashoggi has been missing since visiting the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2.Investigation for missing journalist will definitely reveal something, says Khashoggi's fiancéeHis fiancee appealed to Trump to assist in efforts to find him Tuesday, penning an opinion piece in the Washington Post newspaper."This much is true: He entered the consulate, and there’s no proof that he came out," wrote Hatice Cengiz."At this time, I implore President Trump and first lady Melania Trump to help shed light on Jamal’s disappearance. I also urge Saudi Arabia, especially King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to show the same level of sensitivity and release CCTV footage from the consulate," she added.Trump said the White House has been in contact with Cengiz and hopes to meet her "fairly quickly."Saudi prince allegedly sought to lure KhashoggiHe declined to comment on Khashoggi's possible fate, but said "we cannot let this happen; to reporters, to anybody." The U.S. has been in contact with Turkish officials about the case, Trump said.Turkish security sources on Wednesday identified eight out 15 suspects linked to Khashoggi's disappearance.According to the Turkish police sources, 15 Saudis, including several officials who arrived on the two planes, entered the consulate in Istanbul while Khashoggi was inside.Prosecutors are investigating the incident, while the consulate said on Twitter it is working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Video: Footage emerges of 15-member Saudi intelligence team arriving in IstanbulTurkey on Monday conveyed its expectation of "full cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in the search for the missing journalist.Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton and senior advisor Jared Kushner spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman about Khashoggi on Tuesday, the White House confirmed in a statement.Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also spoke to Salman in a "follow up call" that sought to "reiterate the United States request for information.""In both calls they asked for more details and for the Saudi government to be transparent in the investigation process. We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as available,” she said.
Trump discusses Khashoggi with senior Saudi leader
Saudi Special Forces officers, intelligence officials, national guards and a forensics expert, including the head of the Saudi Scientific Council of Forensics Dr. Salah Muhammed al-Tubaigy, were allegedly among the intelligence team, who later smuggled the body out of the country.
Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia last year saying he feared retribution for his criticism of Saudi policy over the Yemen war and its crackdown on dissent, and since then wrote columns for the Washington Post newspaper.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday called on Riyadh to prove its claim that Khashoggi, left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, while the Washington called on Saudi Arabia to support an investigation into his disappearance.
Saudi Arabia has dismissed claims that it killed or abducted Khashoggi as baseless accusations.
Ernest Moniz, former energy secretary under President Barack Obama, said Wednesday he has suspended his advisory role in a Saudi mega-project over the disappearance of a Saudi journalist.Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, has not been heard from since Oct. 2 when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul amid speculation that he was killed by Saudi authorities.In a written statement, Moniz, who has an advisory role on the board of the $500 billion mega city project NEOM, said "given current events, I am suspending my participation on the NEOM board".He said the suspension will move ahead until more information is made available about Khashoggi's disappearance.Turkey identifies eight of 15 individuals linked with disappearance of Saudi journalistUS ready to assist on missing Saudi journalist Khashoggi: PenceThe NEOM project involves the creation of a huge transnational city and economic zone and covers 26,500 square kilometers in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation on the fate of Khashoggi while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.According to his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi first arrived at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28. After being told his documents would be ready in a week, Khashoggi went to London and returned to Istanbul on Oct. 1.Khashoggi called the consulate and was told "that documents are being prepared" and he could come to the consulate. He went to the diplomatic building on Oct. 2 with Cengiz but was not seen after entering it.Saudi prince allegedly sought to lure Khashoggi
Ex-US energy secretary suspends role in Saudi project
The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, sought to lure missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia and detain him, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.The Washington Post columnist has not been heard from since Oct. 2, when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, amid speculation that he was killed by Saudi authorities.The Washington Post said there are U.S. intelligence intercepts of Saudi officials discussing the plan.According to some friends of Khashoggi, over the past four months, senior Saudi officials close to bin Salman had called Khashoggi to offer him protection and even a high-level job working for the government if he returned to his home country.The report said Khashoggi was "skeptical" over the offers and told one of his friends that the "Saudi government would never make good on its promises not to harm him".Video: Footage shows Saudi journalist walking into consulate before disappearing"He said: ‘Are you kidding? I don’t trust them one bit,’" Khaled Saffuri, an Arab American political activist, was quoted as saying by The Washington Post.A citizen of Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi served as editor of multiple Saudi newspapers including Arab News and Al-Watan.During his residency in the U.S., he lived in northern Virginia and was a contributor to The Washington Post.The Washington Post said in the report that the intelligence about Saudi Arabia’s earlier plans to detain Khashoggi has raised questions about whether the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump should have warned the journalist that he might be in danger.Turkey identifies eight of 15 individuals linked with disappearance of Saudi journalist"Intelligence agencies have a ‘duty to warn’ people who might be kidnapped, seriously injured or killed, according to a directive signed in 2015. The obligation applies regardless of whether the person is a U.S. citizen. Khashoggi was a U.S. resident," it added.A former senior intelligence official who did not want to be named told The Washington Post: "Capturing him, which could have been interpreted as arresting him, would not have triggered a duty-to-warn obligation.""If something in the reported intercept indicated that violence was planned, then, yes, he should have been warned," the official was quoted as saying.US was aware of plan by Saudi officials to capture Khashoggi: Washington PostThe Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the warning process, declined to comment on whether Khashoggi had been contacted, according to The Washington Post.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation on the fate of Khashoggi, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.According to his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi first arrived at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28. After being told his documents would be ready in a week, Khashoggi went to London and returned to Istanbul on Oct. 1.Khashoggi called the consulate and was told "that documents are being prepared" and he could come to the consulate. He went to the diplomatic building on Oct. 2 with Cengiz but was not seen after entering it.Saudi officials ask Turkish authorities to defer consulate search for missing journalistUS ready to assist on missing Saudi journalist Khashoggi: PenceNo proof Khashoggi left Saudi consulate, says fiancée
Saudi prince allegedly sought to lure Khashoggi
Video shows the moment missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi consulate on Oct. 2, the last time he was seen before he disappeared.
Footage shows Saudi journalist walking into consulate before disappearing