On October 2, 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, never to be seen alive again. His purpose was to obtain wedding-related documents, but the events that followed were horrifying.
Inside the consulate, Khashoggi was killed, reportedly dismembered with a bone saw. Turkish authorities found evidence of the gruesome murder, indicating tampering with the crime scene. To this day, his body has not been found.
Initially, the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s fate were unclear, as the Saudi Arabian government provided conflicting accounts. They first claimed he left the consulate unharmed, then suggested he died in a fistfight.
Subsequent revelations pointed to a premeditated murder, with the CIA later attributing the assassination to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a figure Khashoggi openly criticized. International bodies, like the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, held Saudi Arabia responsible for the deliberate killing.
Despite denying prior knowledge of the murder, Crown Prince Salman accepted some responsibility, acknowledging that it occurred under his watch. This incident strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the US, with different political figures responding in various ways.
Reports emerged detailing the last moments of Khashoggi’s life, including an audio recording where he was heard struggling against his assailants. The chilling tape, heard by few, portrayed a horrifying account of his final minutes.
Further investigations revealed disturbing dialogues from individuals connected to the murder, shedding light on the gruesome details of the crime. The use of a body double in Khashoggi’s clothes to deceive surveillance cameras added to the macabre nature of the incident.
The whereabouts of Khashoggi’s remains remain unknown, with speculations ranging from dissolution to disposal, highlighting the heinous nature of the crime. Despite international outrage, the full truth behind Khashoggi’s murder remains a dark chapter in recent history.