Jamal Khashoggi
The Washington Post late Wednesday published the final column of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who went missing this month at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
In the article, titled “What the Arab world needs most is free expression,” Khashoggi wrote about press freedom in the Arab world.
He wrote that after viewing the “2018 Freedom in the World” report by U.S.-based non-governmental organization Freedom House, he “came to a grave realization”.
“There is only one country in the Arab world that has been classified as ‘free.’ That nation is Tunisia. Jordan, Morocco and Kuwait come second, with a classification of ‘partly free.’ The rest of the countries in the Arab world are classified as ‘not free'.
“As a result, Arabs living in these countries are either uninformed or misinformed. They are unable to adequately address, much less publicly discuss, matters that affect the region and their day-to-day lives. A state-run narrative dominates the public psyche, and while many do not believe it, a large majority of the population falls victim to this false narrative. Sadly, this situation is unlikely to change,” he said.
Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi's fate is still uncertain since he went missing earlier this month.Khashoggi has long been feared killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after he entered on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.On the same day, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate building while Khashoggi was still inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey. Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the U.K. -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, called Yasin Aktay, advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turan Kislakci, head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association as Khashoggi didn't return from the consulate.The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation on the same day into claims about Khashoggi's detention in the consulate building.US conveys willingness to help Turkey on Khashoggi case'Turkey serious amid US cleanup of journalist case'- Oct. 4The Saudi Consulate in Istanbul said Khashoggi went missing after he left the building and they were in contact with Turkish officials to bring out the facts.- Oct. 6Turkish police sources said 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the Saudi Consulate while Khashoggi was still inside on Oct. 2. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.- Oct. 7In a Twitter post, Saudi Consulate rejected claims that Khashoggi was murdered at the consulate.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "Whatever comes of this, we will be the ones to declare it to the world."- Oct. 9U.S. President Donald Trump voiced concern over disappearance of the journalist.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the Saudi government to support a “thorough investigation” into the matter.U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said they have requested a detailed and transparent investigation from the Saudi government.Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said: "A search will be conducted in the building [of consulate] as part of the investigation."Turkish diplomatic sources said Saudi Arabia invited Turkish experts and officials to visit the consulate.The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office assigned an acting chief prosecutor and a public prosecutor to carry out the procedural acts at the consulate as part of the investigation of the issue.- Oct. 10Citing U.S. intelligence intercepts, the Washington Post reported Saudi Crown Prince Salman sought to lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia and detain him.- Oct. 11Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an intense and comprehensive investigation into disappearance of Khashoggi.Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said a joint working group to probe Khashoggi’s disappearance was decided to be established upon Saudi Arabia's offer.- Oct. 12Washington Post and CNN claimed Turkey has “shocking” audio and visual evidence that indicate Khashoggi was killed at the consulate.A Saudi delegation came to Turkey over Khashoggi's disappearance.- Oct. 15Saudi and Turkish officials in the joint working group gathered at police headquarters in Istanbul.The meeting lasted for almost two hours and later the officials visited Saudi Consulate.- Oct. 16Turkish and Saudi officials left the consulate nine hours after they searched the building.Pompeo met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss Khashoggi's disappearance.Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said a search will be carried out at the Saudi consul's residence in Istanbul.Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad al-Otaibi left Turkey for Riyadh.- Oct. 17Pompeo arrived in Turkey after his visit to Riyadh and discussed Khashoggi case with Erdogan and Cavusoglu.
Missing Saudi journalist’s fate still uncertain
Turkish investigators on Wednesday entered the residence of the Consul General of Saudi Arabia Mohammad al-Otaibi in Istanbul as a part of the probe investigating the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Mohammad al-Otaibi left Turkey on a commercial flight on Tuesday before his residence was expected to be searched by Turkish police, but experts didn’t enter due to claims of the family’s presence.Saudi investigation team arrives at consul's Istanbul residenceKhashoggi has long been feared killed at the consulate after he entered the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.Khashoggi was a U.S. resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post and he was critical of the Saudi government, calling for reforms.Turkish officials have said they believe the Saudi journalist was murdered and his body removed, which the Saudis have strongly denied. Turkish police entered the Saudi consulate on Monday for the first time since Khashoggi's disappearance two weeks ago, searching the premises for nine hours.Prince Salman can't quash murder probe: Wasington Post column
Turkish investigators enter Saudi consul's Istanbul residence
“The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
“More important, we need to provide a platform for Arab voices. We suffer from poverty, mismanagement and poor education. Through the creation of an independent international forum, isolated from the influence of nationalist governments spreading hate through propaganda, ordinary people in the Arab world would be able to address the structural problems their societies face.”
Above the column, the newspaper published a note by the paper’s Global Opinions editor, Karen Attiah.
“I received this column from Jamal Khashoggi’s translator and assistant the day after Jamal was reported missing in Istanbul,” Attiah wrote.
“The Post held off publishing it because we hoped Jamal would come back to us so that he and I could edit it together. Now I have to accept: That is not going to happen.
German foreign minister has put on hold his plans to visit Saudi Arabia amid an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Heiko Maas urged Saudi Arabia to “fully cooperate” in the investigation and stressed that those bearing responsibility must be held to account.“Regarding my travel plans […] we were actually considering a visit as part of our dialogue with Saudi Arabia. Now we would wait and see,” he said.“The Saudi authorities have said they would make a statement. We would then decide whether a visit to Saudi Arabia would make sense at this point in time,” he added.Saudi consul in Istanbul relieved of post, to be investigatedKhashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post newspaper, has long been feared killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after he entered on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.On Monday, Turkish and Saudi officials searched the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul after the start of a joint probe into the missing journalist.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of what happened to Khashoggi, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S., and the U.K. -- are pressing for the mystery to be cleared up as soon as possible.'Turkey serious amid US cleanup of journalist case'Saudi Arabia pays Washington $100M as Pompeo lands in RiyadhPompeo tells Erdoğan US willing to aid Khashoggi probe
German FM puts plan to visit Saudi Arabia on hold
An 11-member Saudi investigation team arrived at the Saudi consul's Istanbul residence on Wednesday ahead of an expected search by Turkish police in relation to journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance.Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had said that Turkey hopes to enter the residence on Wednesday.Turkish police were expected to search the residence on Tuesday but officers at the scene said it was called off for the day because Saudi officials were unable to join. 'Turkey serious amid US cleanup of journalist case'Saudi Arabia pays Washington $100M as Pompeo lands in RiyadhPompeo tells Erdoğan US willing to aid Khashoggi probePrince Salman can't quash murder probe: Wasington Post columnTurkey hopes to enter Saudi consul’s residence on Wednesday: FM
Saudi investigation team arrives at consul's Istanbul residence
“This is the last piece of his I will edit for The Post. This column perfectly captures his commitment and passion for freedom in the Arab world. A freedom he apparently gave his life for. I will be forever grateful he chose The Post as his final journalistic home one year ago and gave us the chance to work together,” she added.
Khashoggi has long been feared killed after he entered the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen leaving.
On the same day, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.