MURDER OF A REPORTER

Oct 19, 2018 Editorial

Perhaps the world will never know the whole truth behind the disappearance and probably murder of Washington Post reporter and Saudi Arabia native, Jamal Khashoggi. But one thing is certain, the US-based journalist and critic of Saudi Arabia royal family walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday October 2.
Whether or not he was killed pursuant to a botched interrogation, his voice has been silenced. Turkish officials have concluded that Jamal Khashoggi a prominent critic of Saudi Arabia autocratic government was murdered by a 15-member team sent specifically from Saudi Arabia to interrogate the journalist. It is believed that most of the suspects worked for the Saudi security services, military and other Government ministries.
However, Turkey absolved itself of responsibility for what it believes was an assassination by foreign actors conducted on its soil but has declined to release incontrovertible evidence that could end the speculation.
An initial statement from Saudi Arabia promising an inquiry was quickly followed by an angry denunciation of all allegations. The media has reported that after days of denial, Saudi Arabia crown prince intends to admit that the journalist died following a botched interrogation.
Turkish officials have released what purports to be a recording of the instant when Khashoggi was killed. The releases have been published by the New York Times and by the Washington Post.
However, Saudi officials have vehemently denounced the allegations as baseless. If fact, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, assured the United States and the world that Khashoggi left the consulate shortly after he arrived. Since then there have been reports that Saudi Arabia is ready to accept responsibility for Khashoggi’s death.
The murder of Khashoggi would mark a startling escalation of Saudi Arabia’s effort to silence dissent. Under direction from the crown prince, Saudi authorities have in the past carried out hundreds of arrests of clerics and business executives under the banner of national security.
Khashoggi’s murder is a monstrous and unfathomable act committed on a courageous journalist who writes out of a sense of love for his country and deep faith in human dignity and freedom. He was well respected in his country, in the Middle East and throughout the world.
As reported, before his exile in the United States, Khashoggi had been a pillar of the Saudi establishment and was close to the royal family for decades. He was an editor at Saudi Arabia’s news outlets and had been an adviser to a former Saudi intelligence chief.
But his recent criticisms of the royal family and its vast powers led to his self-imposed exile in the United States. He was considered especially dangerous by the Saudi leadership.
Saudi Arabia has always shown disdain for freedom of the press, women rights and the value of human life. President Trump threatened severe punishment if it turns out Khashoggi was murdered by the royal family. Then he backed-off from his tough stance after the Saudi king told him that he had nothing to do with the disappearance of Khashoggi.
The Trump administration has close political and business ties with the Royal family, and would prefer to smooth over the crisis to ensure the US$110 billion arms deal with the Saudis remain intact.
The case has provoked an international outcry, with European leaders calling for tough penalty for those responsible. Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance and possible death highlight the growing threat to journalists worldwide by governments.
So far, forty-eight journalists have been killed this year, adding to the thousands killed in the past.

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