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Revision as of 05:31, 20 October 2018 edit37.42.93.147 (talk) Changed redirect target from Jamal Khashoggi to Jamal Khashoggi#DisappearanceTag: Redirect target changed← Previous edit Revision as of 07:06, 20 October 2018 edit undoAmmarpad (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers49,025 edits Consensus for split at Talk:Jamal_Khashoggi#Dedicated_article_for_disappearance/assassination?Tag: Removed redirectNext edit →
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#redirect ] ==Disappearance==
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Disappearance and killing of Jamal Khashoggi
| partof =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = Saudi Arabian ] in ], Turkey
| target =
| coordinates =
| date = {{start date |df=yes|2018|10|02}}<ref name="deathdate"/>
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Assassination and dismemberment (allegedly)<ref name="ES"/><ref name="missing/>
| injuries =
| victim = ]
| perps = Allegedly directed by ] (]) and led by ]<ref name=saudigazette2013/><ref name="perps"/>
| assailants = 15-member team brought in from Saudi Arabia<ref name="Washington Post 6 October 2018"/>
| weapons =
| numparts =
| dfens =
| motive = Removing a prominent dissident and critic of the Saudi Arabian leadership (allegedly)<ref name="Washington Post 6 October 2018"/>
| inquiry = Ongoing
| coroner =
| accused =
| convicted =
| verdict =
| convictions =
| charges =
| litigation =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| module =
}}
Khashoggi was last seen going inside the main entrance of the Saudi Arabian ] in ] at around 1 pm on 2 October 2018, in order to obtain a document that proved he was divorced.<ref name="NDTV_Fiancee"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/erdogan-closely-case-saudi-critic-jamal-khashoggi-181007143237024.html|title=Erdogan on Khashoggi vanishing: Upsetting this happens in Turkey|date=8 October 2018|access-date=19 October 2018|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref> This document would allow him to marry his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, a Turkish citizen, who waited outside.<ref name="NDTV_Fiancee"/><ref name="ABC_8Oct2018">{{cite news |title=Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears after entering Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-07/turkish-authorities-investigate-disappearance-of-jamal-khashoggi/10348304 |agency= ] |publisher= ] |date= 7 October 2018}}</ref> As he did not come out after 4 pm, though the working hours of the consulate were until 3:30 pm, his fiancée reported him missing when the consulate closed.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://time.acom/5416396/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-journalist-missing/ |title=A Columnist Walked Into Saudi Arabia's Consulate. Then He Went Missing |access-date=11 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> The Saudi Arabian government said that he had left the consulate<ref name=SPA1>{{cite news |url= https://www.spa.gov.sa/1822222 |title= News snippet |publisher= ] |date= 4 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=BBC1>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45758096 |title= Jamal Khashoggi: Washington Post blanks out missing Saudi writer's column |publisher= ] |date= 5 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=NPR1>{{cite news |first= Sasha |last= Ingber |url= https://www.npr.org/2018/10/04/654591662/saudi-critic-vanishes-after-visiting-consulate-prompting-fear-and-confusion |title= Saudi Critic Vanishes After Visiting Consulate, Prompting Fear And Confusion |publisher= ] |date= 4 October 2018}}</ref> via a back entrance.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/10/alleged-saudi-hit-squad-linked-to-jamal-khashoggi-disappearance |title=Jamal Khashoggi: details of alleged Saudi hit squad emerge |last=Chulov |first=Martin |date=10 October 2018 |access-date=11 October 2018 |last2=McKernan |first2=Bethan |language=en}}</ref> The ] said that he was still inside, and his fiancée and friends said that he was missing.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/world/middleeast/khashoggi-saudi-journalist-istanbul.html |title= What Happened to Jamal Khashoggi? Conflicting Reports Deepen a Mystery |first= Carlotta |last= Gall |date= 3 October 2018 |newspaper= ]}}</ref>

Turkish authorities have claimed that security camera footage of the day of the incident was removed from the consulate, and that Turkish consulate staff were abruptly told to take a holiday on the day Khashoggi disappeared while inside the building.<ref name=guardian2>{{cite news|date=9 October 2018|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/09/khashoggi-case-cctv-disappears-from-saudi-consulate-in-turkey|title=Khashoggi case: CCTV disappears from Saudi consulate in Turkey|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Turkish police investigators told the media that the recordings from the security cameras did not show any evidence of Khashoggi leaving the consulate.<ref name="NH_Thriller"/> A security camera was located outside the consulate's front which had showed him entering but not leaving, while another camera installed at a preschool opposite the rear entrance of the consulate also did not show him leaving.<ref name="NH_Thriller">{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Joan |title=Jamal Khashoggi Case: A contemporary thriller |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/jamal-khashoggi-case-a-contemporary-thriller |accessdate=14 October 2018 |publisher=National Herald |date=13 October 2018}}</ref>

Analysts have suggested that Khashoggi might have been considered especially dangerous by the Saudi Arabian leadership because he was not a long-time dissident, but rather a pillar of the Saudi Arabian establishment who was close to its ruling circles for decades, had worked as an editor at Saudi Arabian news outlets and had been an adviser to a former Saudi Arabian intelligence chief.<ref name="Washington Post 6 October 2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-concludes-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-killed-by-murder-team-sources-say/2018/10/06/31ee4f86-c8d9-11e8-9c0f-2ffaf6d422aa_story.html|title=Saudi forensic expert is among 15 named by Turkey in disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=14 October 2018|date= 6 October 2018|first= Kareem |last=Fahim}}</ref>

===Investigation===
] meets with King Salman]]

] reported on 11 October that Turkish officials were investigating whether Khashoggi's ] would reveal clues as to what happened to him inside the Saudi Arabian consulate, examining whether data from the smartwatch could have been transmitted to the ], or his personal phone, which was with his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.<ref name="shockingevide">{{cite web | last=Wilkinson | first=Bard | last2=Robertson | first2=Nic | last3=Smith-Spark | first3=Laura | title=Turkey has 'shocking' evidence of Saudi journalist's murder | website=CNN | date=12 October 2018 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/12/middleeast/khashoggi-saudi-turkey-recordings-intl/index.html | access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>

On the evening of 14 October, ] and King Salman announced that a deal had been made for a "jointing working group" to examine the case.<ref name=wintour>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/15/turkey-jamal-khashoggi-granted-permission-search-saudi-arabia-consulate-istanbul|title=Donald Trump says 'rogue killers' may have murdered Khashoggi|first1=Patrick|last1=Wintour|first2=Martin|last2=Chulov|date=15 October 2018|website=The Guardian|accessdate=15 October 2018}}</ref> On 15 October the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that an "inspection" of the consulate, by both Turkish and Saudi Arabian officials, would take place that afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/jamal-khashoggi-team-enters-saudi-consulate-ahead-of-joint-search-11526611|title=Jamal Khashoggi: Joint search team enters Saudi consulate|publisher=|accessdate=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/jamal-khashoggi-latest-saudi-arabia-turkey-search-istanbul-death-missing-a8584361.html|title=Turkish authorities to search Saudi consulate two weeks after journalist vanished|publisher=news.sky.com|accessdate=15 October 2018}}</ref> According to an anonymous source from the Attorney General's office, Turkish officials found evidence of "tampering" during the inspection, and evidence that supports the belief Khashoggi was killed.<ref name=SearchEvidence/> Turkish President Erdoğan said that "investigation is looking into many things such as toxic materials and those materials being removed by painting them over".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-politics-dissident-erdogan/turkeys-erdogan-says-some-material-at-saudi-consulate-painted-over-idUSKCN1MQ1CT|title=Turkey's Erdogan says some material at Saudi consulate painted over|first=Reuters|last=Editorial|publisher=|accessdate=17 October 2018}}</ref>

On the same day, after speaking to the Saudi Arabian king by phone, Trump said that Salman “denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened... The denial was very, very strong, It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”<ref name=wintour/> On 16 October, Secretary ] "reiterated U.S. concern over Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance" in a meeting with King Salman in Riyadh, while also thanking the king for his "commitment to a thorough, transparent investigation".<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/16/jamal-khashoggi-disappearance-mike-pompeo-saudi-arabia-salman |title= Jamal Khashoggi: US secretary of state meets Saudi king for crisis talks |last=McKernan |first= Bethan |date= 16 October 2018 |newspaper= ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jamal Khashoggi: Pressure grows on Saudis as US envoy meets king |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45871364 |website=BBC |publisher=BBC |accessdate=16 October 2018}}</ref>

According to anonymous sources, Turkish police have expanded the search, as Khashoggi's body may have been disposed of in a nearby forest or on farmland, and ] of samples from the Saudi consulate and the consul's residence are being conducted;<ref name="BBCJK">{{cite web |title=Jamal Khashoggi case: Turkish police 'search forest' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45909732 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=19 October 2018}}</ref> ''Al Jazeera'' reported that according to anonymous sources, fingerprints of one of the alleged perpetrators, Salah Muhammad al-Tubaigy, were found in the consulate.<ref name="AJ">{{cite web |title=Jamal Khashoggi case: All the latest updates |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/jamal-khashoggi-case-latest-updates-181010133542286.html |publisher=Al Jazeera |accessdate=19 October 2018}}</ref>

===Killing===
According to numerous anonymous police sources, the Turkish police believe that Khashoggi was tortured and killed inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul<ref name=reuters>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-politics-dissident/exclusive-turkish-police-believe-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-was-killed-in-consulate-sources-idUSKCN1MG0HU |title= Exclusive: Turkish police believe Saudi journalist Khashoggi was killed in consulate – sources |last= Coskun| first= Orhan |agency= ] |date= 6 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=MEE>{{Cite news |url= https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkish-police-suspect-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-was-killed-consulate-report-1250529206 |title= Turkish police suspect Saudi journalist Khashoggi was killed at consulate |work= ] |date= 6 October 2018}}</ref> by a 15-member team brought in from Saudi Arabia for the operation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-concludes-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-killed-by-murder-team-sources-say/2018/10/06/31ee4f86-c8d9-11e8-9c0f-2ffaf6d422aa_story.html |title= Turkey concludes Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi killed by 'murder' team, sources say |first= Kareem |last= Fahim |newspaper= ] |date= 6 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=guardian1>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/06/saudi-journalist-killed-inside-consulate-turkish-sources |title= Saudi journalist 'killed inside consulate' – Turkish sources |newspaper= ] |date= 6 October 2018}}</ref> One anonymous police source claimed that the dead body was chopped to pieces and quietly moved out of the consulate, and all of this was "videotaped to prove the mission had been accomplished and the tape was taken out of the country".<ref name=MEE/>

On 7 October, Turkish officials pledged to release evidence showing that Khashoggi was killed.<ref name=guardian1/> Yasin Aktay, an adviser to the Turkish president, initially said he believed Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate,<ref name=MEE/> but on 10 October he claimed that "the Saudi state is not blamed here", something that a journalist for '']'' saw as Turkey trying not to harm lucrative trade ties and a delicate regional relationship with Saudi Arabia.<ref name = guardian2/> Turkey then claimed to have audio and video evidence of the killing occurring inside the consulate.<ref name=WaPo1>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/turks-tell-us-officials-they-have-audio-and-video-recordings-that-support-conclusion-khashoggi-was-killed/2018/10/11/119a119e-cd88-11e8-920f-dd52e1ae4570_story.html|title=Turks tell U.S. officials they have audio and video recordings that support conclusion Khashoggi was killed |first1=Shane |last1=Harris |first2=Souad |last2=Mekhennet |first3=John |last3=Hudson |first4=Anne |last4=Gearan |date=11 October 2018 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> Trump said the U.S. had asked Turkey for the recording.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-45893993/jamal-khashoggi-we-ve-asked-for-tape-evidence-trump|title=We've asked for Khashoggi tape evidence – Trump|website=BBC News}}</ref>

] reported on 15 October that Saudi Arabia was about to admit to the killing, but would claim that it was an "interrogation gone bad", as opposed to a targeted death squad killing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/middleeast/saudi-khashoggi-death-turkey/index.html|title=Saudis preparing to admit Jamal Khashoggi died during interrogation, sources say|website=CNN|accessdate=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/15/saudi-arabia-will-reportedly-admit-to-killing-khashoggi/|title=Saudis preparing to admit Jamal Khashoggi died during interrogation, sources say|website=NY Post|accessdate=15 October 2018}}</ref> This claim drew criticism from some, considering that Khashoggi was reportedly dismembered and that his killing was allegedly premeditated, and the circumstances, including the arrival and departure of a team of 15, included forensic specialists presumed to have been present to hide evidence of the crime, on the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/saudi-forensic-expert-is-among-15-named-by-turkey-in-disappearance-of-journalist-jamal-khashoggi/2018/10/11/e62d6dd4-cd6a-11e8-ad0a-0e01efba3cc1_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6ac2826634d6|title=Saudis preparing to admit Jamal Khashoggi died during interrogation, sources say|website=CNN|accessdate=11 October 2018}}</ref>

The next day, the ] reported that, according to an anonymous Turkish source, the killing took about seven minutes and forensic specialist ] cut Khashoggi's body into pieces while Khashoggi was still alive, as he and his colleagues listened to music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/5119410/jamal-khashoggi-dismembered-alive-saudi/|title=Jamal Khashoggi Dismembered Alive, Saudi Killer Listened To Music During Murder|website=Inquisitr|accessdate=16 October 2018}}</ref> The source further claimed that "Khashoggi was dragged from consul general Mohammad al-Otaibi's office at the Saudi consulate ... Tubaigy began ]," and "There was no attempt to interrogate him. They had come to kill him."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-khashoggi-829291552|title=Jamal Khashoggi's killing took seven minutes, Turkish source tells MEE|website=Middle East Eye|accessdate=16 October 2018}}</ref>

The Turkish pro-government newspaper '']'' reported on 18 October that neighbours to the consul's residence had observed an unusual barbecue party, which the paper suggested might have been to smoke-screen the smell from the incineration of the dismembered corpse: "We have been living here for twelve years but I have never seen them having a barbecue party. That day, they had a barbecue party in the garden."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/merve-sebnem-oruc/2018/10/18/a-rogue-state-behind-khashoggis-disappearance-not-rogue-killers|title=A 'rogue state' behind Khashoggi's disappearance, not 'rogue killers'|accessdate=19 October 2018|work=Daily Sabah|author=Merve Şebnem Oruç}}</ref>

'']'' published reports from anonymous sources that Khashoggi was tortured in front of top Saudi diplomat Mohammad al-Otaibi, Saudi Arabia's consul general.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/pompeo-seeks-answers-amid-crisis-over-missing-saudi-journalist-1539690270?mod=trending_now_3|title=Turkey Details Alleged Killing of Saudi Journalist|website=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=17 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/jamal-khashoggi-tortured-saudi-diplomat-reports_us_5bc736d8e4b0d38b5873dc98|title=Jamal Khashoggi Tortured In Front Of Top Saudi Diplomat: Reports|website=Huffington Post|accessdate=17 October 2018}}</ref> Reuters reported that al-Otaibi left Istanbul for ] on 16 October. His departure came hours before his home was expected to be searched in relation to the journalist's disappearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-politics-dissident-consul/saudi-consul-general-leaves-turkey-for-riyadh-turkish-broadcasters-idUSKCN1MQ23T|title=Saudi consul general leaves Turkey for Riyadh: Turkish broadcasters|website=Reuters|accessdate=17 October 2018}}</ref>

On 20 October, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported that a preliminary investigation showed that Khashoggi had died at the consulate while engaged in a fistfight, the first Saudi acknowledgement of Khashoggi's death.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2018/10/19/saudi-government-acknowledges-journalist-jamal-khashaoggi-died-while-in-that-countrys-consulate-in-istanbul/ |title=Saudi Arabia fires 5 top officials, arrests 18 Saudis, saying Khashoggi was killed in fight at consulate |last=Sullivan |first=Kevin |date=2018-10-19 |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2018-10-20 |last2=Morris |first2=Loveday |language=en |last3=El-Ghobashy |first3=Tamer}}</ref>

===Alleged perpetrators===

Al-Waqt news quoted informed sources as saying that ] had assigned ], the deputy head of the ]<ref name=saudigazette2013>{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Gen. Asiri named deputy head of General Intelligence; Ibrahim Al-Omar is new SAGIA chairman|url=http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/177105/Gen-Asiri-named-deputy-head-of-General-Intelligence-Ibrahim-Al-Omar-is-new-SAGIA-chairman|accessdate=13 October 2017|newspaper=Saudi Gazette|date=26 April 2017}}</ref> and the former spokesman for the ], with the mission to execute Khashoggi inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Another military officer with a great deal of experience in dealing with dissidents was the second candidate for the mission.<ref name="perps">{{cite web |url = http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970718000686|title = Arab Source: Khashoggi Murdered by Ex-Spokesman of Saudi-Led Coalition in War on Yemen|publisher = ]| accessdate = 10 October 2018 | deadurl= no}}</ref> On the same day, Turkish media close to the president published images of what it described as a 15-member "assassination squad" allegedly sent to kill Khashoggi, and of a black van later traveling from the Saudi Arabian consulate to the consul's home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://time.com/5420263/saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-assassination-squad/|title=Photos Purport to Show Hit Squad Sent to Kill Saudi Writer|website=Time|accessdate=14 October 2018}}</ref> On 17 October the '']'', a news outlet close to the Turkish president, published the names and pictures of the 15-member Saudi team apparently taken at passport control.<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkish police identify 5 suspects linked to Khashoggi murder: report |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/investigations/2018/10/10/15-member-saudi-intel-squad-sent-to-target-wps-khashoggi-identified |publisher=''Daily Sabah'' |accessdate=17 October 2018}}</ref> Additional details about identities were also reported along with their aliases.<ref>{{cite web |title=15-member Saudi 'intel squad' sent to target WP's Khashoggi identified |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/investigations/2018/10/17/turkish-police-identify-5-suspects-linked-to-khashoggi-murder-report |publisher=''Daily Sabah'' |accessdate=10 October 2018}}</ref> The outlet named and detailed:

]]]
* Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb ({{lang-ar|ماهر عبد العزيز مطرب}}) (born 1971): the former diplomat in London, was photographed with Prince Mohammed on trips to ], ], ] and ].<ref name="straitstimes">{{cite news |title=Khashoggi case: Report links suspects to Saudi prince |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/khashoggi-case-report-links-suspects-to-saudi-prince |work=] |date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=One of the people believed to have been involved in Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance reportedly identified as frequent travel companion of Mohammed bin Salman |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jamal-khashoggi-disappearance-suspect-could-be-colleague-of-mohammed-bin-salman-2018-10 |work=Business Insider |date=17 October 2018}}</ref>
* ] ({{lang-ar|صلاح محمد الطبيقي}}) (born 1971): the head of the Saudi Scientific Council of Forensics.<ref name="straitstimes"/>
* Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Hasawi ({{lang-ar|عبد العزيز محمد الحساوي}}) (born 1987): works as one of Prince Mohammed's personal ]s.<ref name="straitstimes"/>
* Thaer Ghaleb Al-Harbi ({{lang-ar|ثائر غالب الحربي}}) (born 1979): the member of the ].<ref name="straitstimes"/>
* Mohammed Saad Al-Zahrani ({{lang-ar|محمد سعد الزهراني}}) (born 1988): the member of the ].<ref name="straitstimes"/>
* Meshal Saad Al-Bostani ({{lang-ar|مشعل سعد البستاني}}) (born 1987, died 2018): according to ''Al Jazeera'', a ] in the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Matheson |first1=Rob |title=Who are the Saudi suspects in the Khashoggi case |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGe1INeGhkU |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=17 October 2018}}</ref> According to Turkish media, he died in a car accident in Riyadh on return to Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite news |title=One of the men suspected of killing Jamal Khashoggi reportedly died in a car crash after returning to Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/khashoggi-suspect-mashal-saad-al-bostani-reportedly-dead-in-car-crash-2018-10 |accessdate=18 October 2018 |work=Business Insider |date=19 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi who arrived in Turkey day of Khashoggi disappearance dies in ‘traffic accident’ |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/18/saudi-who-arrived-in-turkey-day-of-khashoggi-disappearance-dies-in-traffic-accident/ |accessdate=18 October 2018 |work=New York Post |date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=One of 15 Saudis that targeted Khashoggi dies in suspicious car accident |url=https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/one-of-15-member-squad-that-targeted-khashoggi-dies-in-suspicious-car-accident-3463852 |accessdate=18 October 2018 |work=Yeni Şafak |language=tr-TR}}</ref>
* Naif Hassan Al-Arefe ({{lang-ar|نايف حسن العريفي}}) (born 1986)
* Mustafa Mohammed Al-Madani ({{lang-ar|مصطفى محمد المدني}}) (born 1961)
* Mansur Uthman Abahussein ({{lang-ar|منصور عثمان أباحسين}}) (born 1972)
* Waleed Abdullah Al-Shehri ({{lang-ar|وليد عبد الله الشهري}}) (born 1980)
* Turki Musharraf Al-Shehri ({{lang-ar|تركي مشرف الشهري}}) (born 1982)
* Fahad Shabib Al-Balawi ({{lang-ar|فهد شبيب البلوي}}) (born 1985)
* Saif Saad Al-Qahtani ({{lang-ar|سيف سعد القحطاني}}) (born 1973)
* Khalid Aedh Al-Taibi ({{lang-ar|خالد عايض الطيبي}}) (born 1988)
* Badir Lafi Al-Otaibi ({{lang-ar|بدر لافي العتيبي}}) (born 1973)

===Reactions===

====Saudi Arabia====
;Initial denial of involvement
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince ] claimed Khashoggi left the consulate shortly after the visit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-05/saudi-crown-prince-discusses-trump-aramco-arrests-transcript|title=Saudi Crown Prince Discusses Trump, Aramco, Arrests: Transcript|website=www.bloomberg.com|accessdate=10 October 2018}}</ref> The English-language ''Arab News'' on 10 October 2018 reported that the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the U.S., Prince ], "condemns ‘malicious leaks and grim rumors’ surrounding Khashoggi disappearance" and that "the reports that suggest that Jamal Khashoggi went missing in the Consulate in Istanbul or that the Kingdom's authorities have detained him or killed him are absolutely false, and baseless".<ref name="AN">{{cite web |title=Saudi Arabia's US ambassador condemns 'malicious leaks and grim rumors' surrounding Khashoggi disappearance |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1385141/saudi-arabia |publisher=Arab News |accessdate=10 October 2018|date=9 October 2018 }}</ref><ref name="alliance">{{cite news |title=Is This the Beginning of the End of the U.S.-Saudi Alliance? |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/10/11/is-this-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-us-saudi-alliance/ |work=The Intercept |date=11 October 2018}}</ref> Saudi Arabia threatened to retaliate "if it is any action".<ref name="punishment">{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia says it will hit back at 'threats' over Jamal Khashoggi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/14/jamal-khashoggi-turkey-looks-to-uk-to-persuade-saudi-arabia-to-cooperate |work=The Guardian |date=14 October 2018}}</ref> ], the head of ], the Saudi Arabian-owned pan-Arab television based in ], wrote that "If President Trump was angered by $80 oil, nobody should rule out the price jumping to $100 and $200 a barrel or maybe double that figure." However, the Saudi embassy in Washington said Al Dakhil didn’t represent the official position of Saudi Arabia, and ], the Saudi energy minister, said his country "will continue to be a responsible actor and keep oil markets stable." Saudi Arabia is the world's ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia Breaks 45-Year Taboo With Veiled Threat to Use Oil as a Weapon |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-15/veiled-saudi-threat-boosts-oil-prices-already-moving-toward-100 |work=Bloomberg |date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

Saudi Arabia's Office of Public Prosecution tweeted that "producing rumors or ] that would affect the public order or public security or sending or resending it via social media or any technical means" is punishable "by five years and a fine of 3 million ]".<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia Warns Those Who Spread 'Fake News' Will Be Jailed, Fined, Amid Rumors It Had Journalist Killed |url=https://www.newsweek.com/saudi-arabia-fake-news-jamal-khashoggi-1170613 |work=Newsweek |date=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pompeo, Khashoggi and the problem MBS created |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/pompeo-khashoggi-problem-mbs-created-181016145309417.html |work=Al-Jazeera |date=16 October 2018}}</ref>

] claimed that reports of Khashoggi’s disappearance inside the Saudi Arabian consulate have been pushed by ]. According to the Saudi Arabian daily newspaper '']'', Qatar has a "50 percent ownership of the '' Post'' and has influence over its editorial direction." Saudi Arabian daily newspaper '']'' has claimed that members of the death squad were in fact tourists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi Media Casts Khashoggi Disappearance as a Conspiracy, Claims Qatar Owns Washington Post |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/10/13/khashoggi-saudi-media/ |work=The Intercept |date=13 October 2018}}</ref>

''Al Jazeera'' reported on 13 October that "the ] stays silent...there's been no official reaction from any Arab government, and hardly any condemnation from Arab media."<ref>{{cite news |title=What's behind the Arab silence over Khashoggi's fate? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2018/10/arab-silence-khashoggi-fate-181013224845446.html |work=] |date=13 October 2018}}</ref>

;Later admittance of involvement
On 19 October, after 18 days of denial of any involvement with Khashoggi’s disappearance, the Saudi government admitted that Khashoggi had been killed by its agents. They claimed that 15 of their men had been sent to confront Khashoggi, resulting in a fistfight that ended with Khashoggi being strangled.<ref name=firstadmit1/><ref name=firstadmit2/>

====Turkey====

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan demanded that the Saudi Arabian government provide proof for their claims that Khashoggi left the consulate alive, something that Turkish police CCTV did not capture.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Gul Tuysuz |author2=Sheena McKenzie |title=Turkey's President: Saudis should prove missing journalist left consulate |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/08/middleeast/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-journalist-turkey-intl/index.html |work=] |date=9 October 2018}}</ref>

====United States====

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Saudi Arabia "to support a thorough investigation of Mr. Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation."<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/08/jamal-khashoggi-trump-administration-white-house-response |title= Jamal Khashoggi: US calls on Saudi Arabia to be 'transparent' about missing journalist |last= Borger |first= Julian |date= 9 October 2018 |newspaper= ]}}</ref> President ] expressed concern about the fate of Khashoggi.<ref>politico.com 9 October 2018: </ref> U.S. Senator ] wrote that if the reports of Khashoggi's killing are true, "it should represent a fundamental break" in ].<ref>{{cite news |title=After Six Days, Trump 'Concerned' Over Saudi Journalist Disappearance in Turkey |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/after-six-days-trump-concerned-over-saudi-journalist-disappearance-in-turkey-1.6544743 |work=] |date=9 October 2018}}</ref> Murphy also called for at least a temporary halt in U.S. military support for the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=US-Saudi relations are imperiled by journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/12/us-saudi-relations-are-imperiled-by-journalistjamal-khashoggis-disappearance.html |work=CNBC |date=12 October 2018}}</ref> ] can block or modify an arms sale.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. weapons makers rattled over Saudi Arabia deals |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-politics-dissident-arms/us-weapons-makers-rattled-over-saudi-arabia-deals-idUSKCN1MM1VF |work=Reuters |date=12 October 2018}}</ref>

Former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia ] said on 12 October that he is 95 percent certain that Saudi Arabia killed Jamal Khashoggi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/jamal-khashoggi-missing-saudi-journalist-turkey-ambassador-robert-jordan-editor-karen-attiah|title=Former U.S. ambassador "95 percent certain" Saudi Arabia killed missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi|access-date=12 October 2018|language=en}}</ref>

]: On 20 May 2017, President Donald Trump signed the ].<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/700428/trump-signs-largest-arms-deal-american-history-saudi-arabia|title=Trump signs largest arms deal in American history with Saudi Arabia|date=20 May 2017|work=]}}</ref>]]
U.S. Senator ] said that he would attempt to force a vote on blocking the future ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rand Paul wants to cut military aid to Saudis until missing journalist is found alive |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-paul-wants-to-cut-military-aid-to-saudis-until-missing-journalist-is-found-alive |work=Fox News |date=11 October 2018}}</ref> Senator ], the chair of the ], sent a letter to Trump over Khashoggi’s disappearance. Signed by the entire Committee other than Senator Paul who prepared his own letter, it "instructs the administration to determine whether Khashoggi was indeed kidnapped, tortured, or murdered by the Saudi government and, as the ] requires, to respond within 120 days with a determination of sanctions against individuals who may have been responsible."<ref name="alliance"/>

U.S. Senator ] denounced the ], saying that "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman feels emboldened by the Trump administration’s unquestioning support."<ref name="alliance"/>

President Trump told journalists: "I know are talking about different kinds of sanctions, but are spending $110 billion on military equipment and on things that create jobs for this country."<ref>{{cite news |title=Are Saudi arms sales more important than a butchered journalist? |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2018/10/12/saudi-arms-sales-jamal-khashoggi/1613570002/ |work=USA Today |date=12 October 2018}}</ref> Trump, in responding specifically to the Senate's attempt to block the Saudi Arabian arms deal, stated that the blocking of such a deal "would not be acceptable to me."<ref> CNN Video. By "Inside Politics" reporting section. 13 October 2018. Downloaded 13 October 2018.</ref> While opposing trade sanctions, Trump remained open to the possibility of other forms of what he described as the "severe punishment" of Saudi Arabia.<ref name="punishment"/> According to the ''New York Times'', Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance comes "at a fraught moment for the Trump administration, which is expected to reimpose harsh ] on November 5, with the intent of cutting off all ]. But to make the strategy work, the administration is counting on its relationship with the Saudis to keep global oil flowing... and to work together on a new policy to contain Iran in the Persian Gulf."<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Won’t Trump Condemn the Saudis? |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/10/18/why-wont-trump-condemn-the-saudis-hint-its-israel-also-iran/ |work=The Intercept |date=18 October 2018}}</ref>

''The Washington Post'' reported on 9 October that "the ] intercepted communications of Saudi officials discussing a plan to capture" Khashoggi.<ref name="WaPo 2018">{{cite web| title=Saudis are said to have lain in wait for Jamal Khashoggi |website=Washington Post |date=10 October 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/saudis-lay-in-wait-for-jamal-khashoggi-and-left-turkey-quickly-sources-say/2018/10/09/0e283e2e-cbc5-11e8-ad0a-0e01efba3cc1_story.html |access-date=9 October 2018}}</ref> The intercepted communications were regarded as significant because Khashoggi is a ], and is therefore entitled to protection. According to ] officials, the ] was warned of this threat through official intelligence channels.<ref name="Obs">{{cite web| title=NSA: White House Knew Jamal Khashoggi Was In Danger| website=Observer| url=https://observer.com/2018/10/nsa-source-white-house-knew-jamal-khashoggi-danger |date=10 October 2018}}</ref>

According to ], a professor of journalism at the ], "The case of Jamal Khashoggi, unfortunately, is only the tip of the iceberg...it would only be the most dramatic example of a trend that has been ongoing for at least 30 to 40 years, but which has escalated under ".<ref>{{cite news |title=Jamal Khashoggi Wasn’t the First — Saudi Arabia Has Been Going After Dissidents Abroad for Decades |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/10/12/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-dissidents/ |work=The Intercept |date=12 October 2018}}</ref>

Commenting on Pompeo's smiling photo op with Mohammad Bin Salman, an anonymous source close to the Pompeo's meeting with Mohammad Bin Salman said that the photo was not indicating that the meeting had been friendly. The source said that Bin Salman had received Pompeo's warning to deal with the incident. According to the CNN, Pompeo told Mohammad Bin Salman that "his future as king depends on his handling of Jamal Khashoggi's suspected murder."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gangel |first1=Jamie |last2=Gaouette |first2=Nicole |title=Pompeo warns Saudi prince his future as king is in peril over Khashoggi, source says |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/17/politics/pompeo-saudi-meeting-behind-the-scenes/index.html |accessdate=19 October 2018 |work=CNN}}</ref>

====Europe====

British Foreign Secretary ] met the Saudi Arabian ambassador and warned Saudi Arabia that the long-term ] depends on "shared values".<ref>{{cite news |title=Jeremy Hunt warns Saudis over Khashoggi disappearance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/09/jeremy-hunt-warns-saudis-over-khashoggi-disappearance |work=The Guardian |date=9 October 2018}}</ref> The ] ], ], criticized ]'s government's response to Khashoggi's disappearance as 'too little, too late'.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jamal Khashoggi: Labour slams government's response as 'too little, too late'. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/13/labour-slams-government-over-khashoggi-response-emily-thornberry |work=The Guardian |date=13 October 2018}}</ref>

On 19 October the former chief of the ] (MI6), ], told the BBC that all the evidence suggested Crown Prince Salman was behind the death of Khashoggi, and that the theory that rogue elements in the Saudi military were responsible was "blatant fiction".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/19/crown-prince-mohammed-jamal-khashoggi-killing-mi6-sir-john-sawers|title=Evidence suggests crown prince ordered Khashoggi killing, says ex-MI6 chief|first=Patrick|last=Wintour|date=19 October 2018|website=the Guardian|accessdate=19 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/jamal-khashoggi-turkey-investigation-saudi-arabia-istanbul-consulate-embassy-missing-a8592231.html|title=Turkey prosecutor grills Saudi consulate staff in Khashoggi probe|publisher=|accessdate=19 October 2018}}</ref>

], chairman of the ] parliamentary foreign affairs committee, criticized Donald Trump’s comments, "The decisive factor now is the behaviour of the U.S. president, who basically told the crown prince, we are giving you free rein as long as you buy enough weapons and other things from us."<ref>{{cite news |title=Europe may need to change Saudi policies over Khashoggi case – Merkel ally |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-politics-dissident-germany/europe-may-need-to-change-saudi-policies-over-khashoggi-case-merkel-ally-idUKKCN1MR0OP |work=Reuters |date=17 October 2018}}</ref> However, ''The Washington Post'' on 15 October reported that "While Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement over the weekend in which they called for a “credible investigation,” none of the three countries have gone beyond the remarks so far voiced by the White House. If anything, they’ve been even less vocal. While U.S. pressure on Trump has been bipartisan, in Europe, calls to punish Saudi Arabia have mostly come from opposition parties. ... While German observers have lashed out at Trump for refusing to punish the Saudis, German Chancellor ]’s spokesman said the Khashoggi case and ] were "two unrelated things"."<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump is reluctant to give up Saudi deals over Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance. So is Europe. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/10/15/trump-is-reluctant-give-up-saudi-deals-over-jamal-khashoggis-disappearance-so-is-europe/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.27f2f7994cec |work=The Washington Post |date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

Revision as of 07:06, 20 October 2018

Disappearance

Disappearance and killing of Jamal Khashoggi
LocationSaudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Date2 October 2018 (2018-10-02)
Attack typeAssassination and dismemberment (allegedly)
VictimJamal Khashoggi
PerpetratorsAllegedly directed by Mohammad bin Salman (Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia) and led by General Ahmed al-Assiri
Assailants15-member team brought in from Saudi Arabia
MotiveRemoving a prominent dissident and critic of the Saudi Arabian leadership (allegedly)
InquiryOngoing

Khashoggi was last seen going inside the main entrance of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul at around 1 pm on 2 October 2018, in order to obtain a document that proved he was divorced. This document would allow him to marry his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, a Turkish citizen, who waited outside. As he did not come out after 4 pm, though the working hours of the consulate were until 3:30 pm, his fiancée reported him missing when the consulate closed. The Saudi Arabian government said that he had left the consulate via a back entrance. The Turkish government said that he was still inside, and his fiancée and friends said that he was missing.

Turkish authorities have claimed that security camera footage of the day of the incident was removed from the consulate, and that Turkish consulate staff were abruptly told to take a holiday on the day Khashoggi disappeared while inside the building. Turkish police investigators told the media that the recordings from the security cameras did not show any evidence of Khashoggi leaving the consulate. A security camera was located outside the consulate's front which had showed him entering but not leaving, while another camera installed at a preschool opposite the rear entrance of the consulate also did not show him leaving.

Analysts have suggested that Khashoggi might have been considered especially dangerous by the Saudi Arabian leadership because he was not a long-time dissident, but rather a pillar of the Saudi Arabian establishment who was close to its ruling circles for decades, had worked as an editor at Saudi Arabian news outlets and had been an adviser to a former Saudi Arabian intelligence chief.

Investigation

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with King Salman

Reuters reported on 11 October that Turkish officials were investigating whether Khashoggi's Apple Watch would reveal clues as to what happened to him inside the Saudi Arabian consulate, examining whether data from the smartwatch could have been transmitted to the cloud, or his personal phone, which was with his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.

On the evening of 14 October, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and King Salman announced that a deal had been made for a "jointing working group" to examine the case. On 15 October the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that an "inspection" of the consulate, by both Turkish and Saudi Arabian officials, would take place that afternoon. According to an anonymous source from the Attorney General's office, Turkish officials found evidence of "tampering" during the inspection, and evidence that supports the belief Khashoggi was killed. Turkish President Erdoğan said that "investigation is looking into many things such as toxic materials and those materials being removed by painting them over".

On the same day, after speaking to the Saudi Arabian king by phone, Trump said that Salman “denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened... The denial was very, very strong, It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?” On 16 October, Secretary Mike Pompeo "reiterated U.S. concern over Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance" in a meeting with King Salman in Riyadh, while also thanking the king for his "commitment to a thorough, transparent investigation".

According to anonymous sources, Turkish police have expanded the search, as Khashoggi's body may have been disposed of in a nearby forest or on farmland, and DNA tests of samples from the Saudi consulate and the consul's residence are being conducted; Al Jazeera reported that according to anonymous sources, fingerprints of one of the alleged perpetrators, Salah Muhammad al-Tubaigy, were found in the consulate.

Killing

According to numerous anonymous police sources, the Turkish police believe that Khashoggi was tortured and killed inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul by a 15-member team brought in from Saudi Arabia for the operation. One anonymous police source claimed that the dead body was chopped to pieces and quietly moved out of the consulate, and all of this was "videotaped to prove the mission had been accomplished and the tape was taken out of the country".

On 7 October, Turkish officials pledged to release evidence showing that Khashoggi was killed. Yasin Aktay, an adviser to the Turkish president, initially said he believed Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate, but on 10 October he claimed that "the Saudi state is not blamed here", something that a journalist for The Guardian saw as Turkey trying not to harm lucrative trade ties and a delicate regional relationship with Saudi Arabia. Turkey then claimed to have audio and video evidence of the killing occurring inside the consulate. Trump said the U.S. had asked Turkey for the recording.

CNN reported on 15 October that Saudi Arabia was about to admit to the killing, but would claim that it was an "interrogation gone bad", as opposed to a targeted death squad killing. This claim drew criticism from some, considering that Khashoggi was reportedly dismembered and that his killing was allegedly premeditated, and the circumstances, including the arrival and departure of a team of 15, included forensic specialists presumed to have been present to hide evidence of the crime, on the same day.

The next day, the Middle East Eye reported that, according to an anonymous Turkish source, the killing took about seven minutes and forensic specialist Salah Muhammed al-Tubaigy cut Khashoggi's body into pieces while Khashoggi was still alive, as he and his colleagues listened to music. The source further claimed that "Khashoggi was dragged from consul general Mohammad al-Otaibi's office at the Saudi consulate ... Tubaigy began to cut Khashoggi’s body up on a table in the study while he was still alive," and "There was no attempt to interrogate him. They had come to kill him."

The Turkish pro-government newspaper Daily Sabah reported on 18 October that neighbours to the consul's residence had observed an unusual barbecue party, which the paper suggested might have been to smoke-screen the smell from the incineration of the dismembered corpse: "We have been living here for twelve years but I have never seen them having a barbecue party. That day, they had a barbecue party in the garden."

The Wall Street Journal published reports from anonymous sources that Khashoggi was tortured in front of top Saudi diplomat Mohammad al-Otaibi, Saudi Arabia's consul general. Reuters reported that al-Otaibi left Istanbul for Riyadh on 16 October. His departure came hours before his home was expected to be searched in relation to the journalist's disappearance.

On 20 October, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported that a preliminary investigation showed that Khashoggi had died at the consulate while engaged in a fistfight, the first Saudi acknowledgement of Khashoggi's death.

Alleged perpetrators

Al-Waqt news quoted informed sources as saying that Mohammad bin Salman had assigned Ahmad Asiri, the deputy head of the Al-Mukhabarat Al-A'amah and the former spokesman for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition in Yemen, with the mission to execute Khashoggi inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Another military officer with a great deal of experience in dealing with dissidents was the second candidate for the mission. On the same day, Turkish media close to the president published images of what it described as a 15-member "assassination squad" allegedly sent to kill Khashoggi, and of a black van later traveling from the Saudi Arabian consulate to the consul's home. On 17 October the Daily Sabah, a news outlet close to the Turkish president, published the names and pictures of the 15-member Saudi team apparently taken at passport control. Additional details about identities were also reported along with their aliases. The outlet named and detailed:

File:Salah Mohammed Al-Tubaiqi at Istanbul airport.jpg
Salah Muhammed al-Tubaigy at Istanbul Airport

Reactions

Saudi Arabia

Initial denial of involvement

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman claimed Khashoggi left the consulate shortly after the visit. The English-language Arab News on 10 October 2018 reported that the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Khalid bin Salman, "condemns ‘malicious leaks and grim rumors’ surrounding Khashoggi disappearance" and that "the reports that suggest that Jamal Khashoggi went missing in the Consulate in Istanbul or that the Kingdom's authorities have detained him or killed him are absolutely false, and baseless". Saudi Arabia threatened to retaliate "if it is any action". Turki Aldakhil, the head of Al Arabiya, the Saudi Arabian-owned pan-Arab television based in Dubai, wrote that "If President Trump was angered by $80 oil, nobody should rule out the price jumping to $100 and $200 a barrel or maybe double that figure." However, the Saudi embassy in Washington said Al Dakhil didn’t represent the official position of Saudi Arabia, and Khalid A. Al-Falih, the Saudi energy minister, said his country "will continue to be a responsible actor and keep oil markets stable." Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia's Office of Public Prosecution tweeted that "producing rumors or fake news that would affect the public order or public security or sending or resending it via social media or any technical means" is punishable "by five years and a fine of 3 million riyals".

Al Arabiya claimed that reports of Khashoggi’s disappearance inside the Saudi Arabian consulate have been pushed by Qatar. According to the Saudi Arabian daily newspaper Okaz, Qatar has a "50 percent ownership of the Post and has influence over its editorial direction." Saudi Arabian daily newspaper Al Yaum has claimed that members of the death squad were in fact tourists.

Al Jazeera reported on 13 October that "the Arab world stays silent...there's been no official reaction from any Arab government, and hardly any condemnation from Arab media."

Later admittance of involvement

On 19 October, after 18 days of denial of any involvement with Khashoggi’s disappearance, the Saudi government admitted that Khashoggi had been killed by its agents. They claimed that 15 of their men had been sent to confront Khashoggi, resulting in a fistfight that ended with Khashoggi being strangled.

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan demanded that the Saudi Arabian government provide proof for their claims that Khashoggi left the consulate alive, something that Turkish police CCTV did not capture.

United States

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Saudi Arabia "to support a thorough investigation of Mr. Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation." President Trump expressed concern about the fate of Khashoggi. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy wrote that if the reports of Khashoggi's killing are true, "it should represent a fundamental break" in Saudi Arabia–United States relations. Murphy also called for at least a temporary halt in U.S. military support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. United States Congress can block or modify an arms sale.

Former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan said on 12 October that he is 95 percent certain that Saudi Arabia killed Jamal Khashoggi.

Riyadh summit: On 20 May 2017, President Donald Trump signed the United States–Saudi Arabia arms deal.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul said that he would attempt to force a vote on blocking the future U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Senator Bob Corker, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Trump over Khashoggi’s disappearance. Signed by the entire Committee other than Senator Paul who prepared his own letter, it "instructs the administration to determine whether Khashoggi was indeed kidnapped, tortured, or murdered by the Saudi government and, as the Global Magnitsky Act requires, to respond within 120 days with a determination of sanctions against individuals who may have been responsible."

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders denounced the Trump administration, saying that "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman feels emboldened by the Trump administration’s unquestioning support."

President Trump told journalists: "I know are talking about different kinds of sanctions, but are spending $110 billion on military equipment and on things that create jobs for this country." Trump, in responding specifically to the Senate's attempt to block the Saudi Arabian arms deal, stated that the blocking of such a deal "would not be acceptable to me." While opposing trade sanctions, Trump remained open to the possibility of other forms of what he described as the "severe punishment" of Saudi Arabia. According to the New York Times, Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance comes "at a fraught moment for the Trump administration, which is expected to reimpose harsh sanctions against Iran on November 5, with the intent of cutting off all Iranian oil exports. But to make the strategy work, the administration is counting on its relationship with the Saudis to keep global oil flowing... and to work together on a new policy to contain Iran in the Persian Gulf."

The Washington Post reported on 9 October that "the U.S. intelligence intercepted communications of Saudi officials discussing a plan to capture" Khashoggi. The intercepted communications were regarded as significant because Khashoggi is a legal resident of the United States, and is therefore entitled to protection. According to NSA officials, the White House was warned of this threat through official intelligence channels.

According to Rami George Khouri, a professor of journalism at the American University of Beirut, "The case of Jamal Khashoggi, unfortunately, is only the tip of the iceberg...it would only be the most dramatic example of a trend that has been ongoing for at least 30 to 40 years, but which has escalated under ".

Commenting on Pompeo's smiling photo op with Mohammad Bin Salman, an anonymous source close to the Pompeo's meeting with Mohammad Bin Salman said that the photo was not indicating that the meeting had been friendly. The source said that Bin Salman had received Pompeo's warning to deal with the incident. According to the CNN, Pompeo told Mohammad Bin Salman that "his future as king depends on his handling of Jamal Khashoggi's suspected murder."

Europe

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt met the Saudi Arabian ambassador and warned Saudi Arabia that the long-term friendship between the UK and Saudi Arabia depends on "shared values". The Labour Party's Shadow First Secretary of State, Emily Thornberry, criticized Theresa May's government's response to Khashoggi's disappearance as 'too little, too late'.

On 19 October the former chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), John Sawers, told the BBC that all the evidence suggested Crown Prince Salman was behind the death of Khashoggi, and that the theory that rogue elements in the Saudi military were responsible was "blatant fiction".

Norbert Röttgen, chairman of the German parliamentary foreign affairs committee, criticized Donald Trump’s comments, "The decisive factor now is the behaviour of the U.S. president, who basically told the crown prince, we are giving you free rein as long as you buy enough weapons and other things from us." However, The Washington Post on 15 October reported that "While Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement over the weekend in which they called for a “credible investigation,” none of the three countries have gone beyond the remarks so far voiced by the White House. If anything, they’ve been even less vocal. While U.S. pressure on Trump has been bipartisan, in Europe, calls to punish Saudi Arabia have mostly come from opposition parties. ... While German observers have lashed out at Trump for refusing to punish the Saudis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said the Khashoggi case and German exports to Riyadh were "two unrelated things"."

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