Türkiye confirms Saudi journalist was strangled and dismembered
Türkiye has officially said for the first time that journalist Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in a premeditated murder.
October 31, according toGuardianIrfan Fidan, Istanbul's chief prosecutor, confirmed that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled and his body was dismembered for disposal. This is the first time Turkish officials have officially spoken about how the journalist was murdered.
Türkiye's move undermines Saudi Arabia's assertions that Khashoggi died in a fight when he went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to collect documents for his upcoming wedding on October 2.
|
Turkey confirmed that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled and dismembered. Photo:PA. |
Prosecutor Fidan added that talks this week between him and his Saudi counterpart, Saud al-Mojeb, had been fruitless.
“Despite our good-faith efforts to uncover the truth, we have not achieved any concrete results,” local media quoted the prosecutor as saying.
On October 25, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor admitted that the murder of journalist Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and frequent critic of the Saudi government and Crown Prince Salman, was premeditated.
The information contradicts the Saudi government's previous statement that Mr. Khashoggi died in an accident.
|
Turkish forensic officers collect evidence after a search of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Photo:AFP. |
According toGuardianSaudi Arabia's constant changes in its explanation of Khashoggi's murder have failed to convince Turkey and the international community. With Riyadh admitting that Khashoggi's death was premeditated, observers are questioning who in Saudi Arabia had the authority to order an international assassination.
The shocking incident related to the mysterious disappearance of journalist Khashoggi has caused a wave of outrage around the world, causing tension in relations between Saudi Arabia and many countries, especially the Saudi Arabia-US relationship.
This latest move by Türkiye shows that it is likely that Turkish officials will continue to reveal information in small doses and more evidence will be revealed.
