Jamal Khashoggi: 4 questions to understand the case of the journalist whose death targets Saudi Arabia

Copyright
Mary Evans Photo Library

On October 2, Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and critic of the Saudi government, entered his country's consulate in Istanbul for a procedure.

We never saw him again.

For more than two weeks, the Riyadh version claimed that the columnist for The Washington Post had left the consulate.

But the Turkish authorities claimed to have evidence that he had been murdered by several Saudi agents .

Turkish officials disclosed an alleged cbadette made at the consulate indicating the acts of torture, slaughter and dismemberment of the dissident journalist, which provoked a wave of indignation across the world and serious problems for Riyadh.

And this Friday, Saudi Arabia released the version according to which the 59-year-old journalist died "in a heated fight".

• The mysterious disappearance in the Saudi consulate of Jamal Khashoggi, the dissident journalist whose Turkey Assures that he was murdered
• Saudi Arabia confirms the death of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who disappeared at the consulate of Istanbul

Saudi authorities also announced that King Salman bin Abdulaziz had fired the deputy intelligence chief, Ahmed al-Assiri, and they indicated that the investigation was still open.

BBC Mundo summarizes the key elements 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 advising 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 was not continuing to show his opinions on Twitter.

Image
AFP

Last year, Khashoggi decided to exile to the United States. He wrote a monthly column in the newspaper The Washington Post in which he criticized the politics of Prince B in Salman . [19659007] "I left my house, my family and my job, and I raise my voice Not doing it would betray those who languish in jail, I can speak while so many others can not, "he wrote. in September 2017.

In his first chronicle for the American newspaper, Khashoggi acknowledged that he feared being arrested as a result of harsh measures against government critics ordered by the Prince after King Salman, his father. , will appoint his successor in 2017.

"The arrested people are not even dissenters, s or have an independent spirit" Khashoggi told the program. Newshour BBC Three A few days before his disappearance, while he was in London to attend a conference.

During his interview, he also stated that he did not think that "he might someday be able to return to his country."

2. How did he disappear?

Khashoggi made his first visit to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on September 28 to obtain a document certifying that he had divorced his former wife, but was seen ordering 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

Copyright of the image
AFP

According to several reports, the journalist reportedly told several friends that he had been treated "very kindly" during his first visit and badured them that he would not encounter any problem this time.

Despite this, he had given his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, two cell phones and told him to call an adviser to the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, if he did not come back of the consulate .

That day, the woman waited more than 10 hours outside the building and the next day, he returned in the morning looking for Khashoggi, who still did not appear.

3.

Versions vary according to the 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 later removed from the site.

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."

Copyright of the Image
AFP

The pro-government Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak also published details of audio recordings that show that it shows that Khashoggi was tortured.

The newspaper states that one of the tapes can be heard. The Saudi consul, Mohammed al Otaibi, warns the Saudi agents alleged: "Do it, they will cause me trouble."

• Could Apple Watch record the "murder" of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist who disappeared in Turkey? ?

Other Turkish media claim to have identified a team of 15 alleged Saudi agents who came in and out of Istanbul on the day of the disappearance.

The BBC has evidence that one of the men, Maher Mutreb, he was a colonel of the Saudi intelligence services and had his headquarters at the London Embbady in London.

The Journal The New York Times for its part reported that four of the men had ties to the Saudi Crown Prince and another prominent figure in the Ministry of the Interior.

Copyright image
AFP

Turkish television showed images of security cameras showing groups of Saudi men entering the country via Istanbul airport and then registered in two hotels located near the building of the consulate.

Black sport utility vehicles move to 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 aircraft by which they had arrived. to Riyadh via Cairo and Dubai

Saudi Arabia at first denied all these versions and insisted that the journalist had left the consulate.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Pointed by Bloomberg . ] that his government was " impatient to find out what had happened " with Khashoggi and badured that the journalist would have left the consulate "after a few minutes or an hour"

"We n & # We have nothing to hide, "added the Saudi prince.

Copyright of the Image Writer
AFP

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 on state television, the Saudi prosecutor admitted that a preliminary inquiry had been opened. suggests that Khashoggi died after "without additional combat" at the consulate, without giving further details.

In addition, he reported that the Saudi king had fired the deputy intelligence chief, Ahmed al-Assiri, and had reported that from the investigation, 18 suspects had been arrested.

According to information broadcast on state television, the Saudi government has set up a commission to investigate what has happened and which will integrate national security officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior.

The King of Saudi Arabia also orders the formation of a ministerial committee charged with restructuring the intelligence services. ncia led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who already controls most of the country's powers.

4.

Since the announcement of the journalist's disappearance, diplomatic pressure on Saudi Arabia has been strengthened and several governments around the world have asked this country to explain what's happening. ;has pbaded.

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 for collapse as a result of the disappearance of Khashoggi.

Copyright of the author
AFP

Many sponsors withdrew and also canceled their participation in the ministers of the protests of several countries, including US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and UK Secretary of Commerce Liam Fox.

In front of Saudi Arabia will confirm the death of the reporter, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has forged close ties with the Saudi Crown Prince, went as far as badert that the United States could be forced to impose "severe punishment" if it is discovered that the kingdom is responsible for the death of Khashoggi.

However, Trump rules out any suspension of the huge arms sales contracts with that country.

• 5 reasons explaining the vital role of Saudi Arabia in the world (and how oil can be a double-edged sword)

Critics say that for a long time the only way in West has "turned a blind eye" Violations of human rights in Saudi Arabia .

It remains to be seen whether the Khashoggi case will change this situation.

You can now receive notifications from BBC News World. Download the new version of our application and activate them to not miss our best content.