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On October 2, Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and critic of the Saudi government, went to his country's consulate in Istanbul for a procedure.
He has never been seen again.
For more information Two weeks ago, the Riyadh version claimed that the columnist for The Washington Post had left the consulate
but the Turkish authorities claimed to have proof that it was not the same. he was killed by several Saudi agents
Turkish officials have leaked an alleged cbadette made at the consulate that emphasized the torture, slitting and dismemberment of the dissident journalist causing a wave of Indignation in the world and serious problems for Riyadh
On Friday, Saudi Arabia released the version according to which the 59-year-old journalist would have died "in a heated fight".
Saudi authorities also reported that King Salman Bin Abdulaziz fired the deputy intelligence chief, Ahmed al-Assiri, and said the investigation was still open.
BBC Mundo summarizes the key points of the case and explains why it has generated this international crisis.
1. Who was Jamal Khashoggi?
Khashoggi was a renowned journalist who had covered for several Saudi media important events in the region, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan or the rise of Osama bin Laden.
For years, it was perceived as close to the royal family and even counsel to senior officers.
After the arrest of several of his friends during the purges initiated by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman his chronicle in the newspaper al-Hayat was canceled and it was reported that he had been warned that he had not continued to post his opinions on Twitter.
Last year, Khashoggi decided to exile in the United States. He wrote a monthly column in the newspaper The Washington Post in which he criticized the policy of Prince
Prince B in Salman . [19659003] "I left my home, my family and my job and I raised the voice Do not do it would betray those who languish in jail, I can speak while so much of it. others can not, "he wrote. in September 2017.
In his first chronicle for the American newspaper, Khashoggi acknowledged that he feared being arrested because of harsh measures taken against government critics ordered by the Prince after King Salman, his father. , will appoint his successor in 2017.
"The people who are arrested are not even dissenters, s or have an independent spirit" Khashoggi told the program. Newshour of the BBC Three days before his disappearance, while he was in London to attend a conference.
In the interview, he also stated that he did not think that "he could one day be able to return to his country".
2. How did he disappear?
Khashoggi went to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul for the first time on September 28 to obtain a document certifying that he had divorced his ex-wife, but he did not go to court. is seen to order to come back another day.
The journalist made an appointment to return on on Tuesday, October 2 . On that day, he arrived at the consulate at 1:14 pm local time to attend the scheduled meeting at 1:30 pm
According to several reports, the journalist reportedly told several friends that he had been treated "very nicely" during his first visit. and he badured them that he would have no problem the second time.
Despite this, he gave his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, two cell phones, and recommended him to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. he did not return from the consulate .
On that day, the woman waited more than 10 hours outside the building and returned the next day in search of Khashoggi, who still did not appear.
3.
Versions vary according to source
The Turkish authorities claim that the journalist was tortured and murdered inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents and that his body was subsequently removed from the scene.
A Turkish security source told the BBC that she had audio and video evidence to support this claim.
Another source described the recording in the newspaper The . Washington Post : "You can hear his voice and that of men who speak Arabic, you can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then killed."
The Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak also published details of the audio recordings which shows, according to him, that Khashoggi was tortured.
The newspaper indicates that the Saudi Arabian consul, Mohammed al Otaibi, may hear one of the gangs warning the suspected agents. uditas: "Do it.They will get me into trouble."
Other Turkish media claim to have identified a team of 15 alleged Saudi agents who came in and left Istanbul the day of the disappearance.
The BBC has evidence of the existence of Maher Mutreb, one of the men, was a colonel of Saudi intelligence services and was based at the London Embbady in London.
The newspaper The New York Times ] for its part reported that four of the men had ties to the Saudi Crown Prince and another figure of the Ministry of the Interior.
Turkish television showed images of security cameras that appear to show Saudi men's groups entering the country through Istanbul airport, then traveling to two hotels located in near the consulate building.
It also showed vehicles, including black trucks, heading. at the consulate an hour before Khashoggi's visit.
According to Turkish investigators, the group of alleged agents allegedly left Turkey on board the two private planes through which they arrived and reportedly went to Riyadh via Cairo. and Dubai.
In the beginning, Saudi Arabia denied all these versions and insisted that the journalist had left the consulate.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman reported to Bloomberg News that his government was " eager to find out what happened " with Khashoggi and badured that the journalist had left the consulate "after a few minutes or an hour".
"We have nothing to hide," added the Saudi prince.
However, after increased international pressure, the prosecutor's office finally acknowledged on Friday, October 19 that the journalist had died inside the consulate.
In a speech broadcast by state television, the prosecutor's office audited admitted that an initial investigation suggests that Khashoggi died after "a heated fight" at consulate, without giving further details.
He also said that the Saudi king had fired the deputy intelligence chief, Ahmed al. Assiri said that 18 suspects had been arrested as a result of the investigation.
According to information broadcast on state television, the Saudi government set up a commission to investigate what happened and to integrate officials from the state. national security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Interior
The King of Saudi Arabia also orders the formation of a ministerial committee charged with restructuring the intelligence services and led by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, already in command of most of the country's powers.
4.
Since the announcement of the journalist's disappearance, diplomatic pressure on [SaudiArabia has been strengthened and several governments around the world have asked him to come. to explain what happened.
A conference on investment organized by Saudi Arabia, the so-called "Davos of the desert", organized by the prince to promote his reform program from 23 to 25 October, seemed ready . collapse as a result of Khashoggi's disappearance.
Many sponsors withdrew and also canceled their participation in meetings of ministers from several countries, including US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and the Secretary of Commerce. The British international, Liam Fox.
Before Saudi Arabia confirms the death of the journalist, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who After establishing close ties with the Saudi Crown Prince, he came to affirm that the States United States could be forced to impose "severe punishment" when it was discovered that the kingdom was responsible for the death of Khashoggi.
No However, Trump has ruled out any suspension of the huge arms sales contracts with that country.
Critics say that for a long time the West has "turned a blind eye" to the human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.
It remains to be seen if the Khashoggi case will change this situation.
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