Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi 'murdered in Istanbul consulate', police claim
Turkish police claimed on Saturday that a prominent Saudi Arabian journalist critical of Riyadh was murdered in its consulate in Istanbul.
Mystery has surrounded the fate of Jamal Khashoggi, who had spoken out against the ruling family and had a regular columnist for the Washington Post, since he disappeared four days ago during a visit to the Saudi diplomatic mission in Turkey.
His Turkish fiancée Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside for him on Tuesday, says he never re-emerged.
"The initial assessment of the Turkish police is that Mr Khashoggi has been killed at the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul. We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate," Turkish officials told Reuters.
They said a "team" of 15 Saudi officials were sent to Turkey to kill the 59-year-old on the day he vanished. It is understood that Riyadh knew ahead of time that he would be visiting the consulate that day - having visited last week and been asked to return on Tuesday.
Ms Cengiz tweeted after reading the allegations: "Jamal was not killed and I cannot believe he was killed!".
Turkish officials will reportedly share evidence on Sunday that backs up their claims.
"If the reports of Jamal's murder are true, it is a monstrous and unfathomable act," Fred Hiatt, the Washington Post's editorial page editor, said in a statement. "Jamal was - or, as we hope, is - a committed, courageous journalist. He writes out of a sense of love for his country and deep faith in human dignity and freedom."
Saudi Arabia has claimed that Mr Khashoggi entered the consulate but left shortly afterwards. However, no CCTV has been released to back up the claim.
"The burden of proof is on Saudi Arabia to produce evidence for its claim that Khashoggi left the consulate alone, and that Saudi agents have not detained him," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of Human Rights Watch, said earlier in the day.
Rights groups have said the incident "sends a petrifying signal" to the kingdom's critics and dissidents.
In an interview with Bloomberg published on Friday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied Riyadh was detaining Mr Khashoggi and invited Turkish authorities to search the consulate.
Prince Mohammed also suggested that Mr Khashoggi was still in Turkey. “If he’s in Saudi Arabia, I would know that,” he said.
At the same time as leading reforms in one of the world’s last-remaining absolute monarchies, the prince has led a crackdown on opponents and activists in recent months.
However, the latest would mark a serious escalation of the kingdom's attempt to silence those opposed to it.
