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| Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi missing after visit to consulate | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Saudi journalist known as one of the country’s most outspoken critics has gone missing after visiting its consulate in Istanbul, raising fears about his safety. | A Saudi journalist known as one of the country’s most outspoken critics has gone missing after visiting its consulate in Istanbul, raising fears about his safety. |
| Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi commentator who writes a regular column for the Washington Post, entered the Saudi Arabian diplomatic mission in the Turkish city after midday on Tuesday for a visit relating to filing a divorce before he can remarry. | Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi commentator who writes a regular column for the Washington Post, entered the Saudi Arabian diplomatic mission in the Turkish city after midday on Tuesday for a visit relating to filing a divorce before he can remarry. |
| His Turkish fiancee, who waited outside for him for 12 hours on Tuesday, said he had failed to come out and called the police. | His Turkish fiancee, who waited outside for him for 12 hours on Tuesday, said he had failed to come out and called the police. |
| “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know if he’s inside or if they took him somewhere else,” she told Reuters by telephone from outside the Saudi mission in Istanbul, where she was waiting for a second day. | “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know if he’s inside or if they took him somewhere else,” she told Reuters by telephone from outside the Saudi mission in Istanbul, where she was waiting for a second day. |
| Another close friend also said the 59-year-old journalist had not left the consulate, a claim disputed by a Saudi official. Two Turkish government officials said on Wednesday that Khashoggi was still in the consulate, according to Reuters. | |
| With more than 1.6 million followers on Twitter, Khashoggi is a prolific commentator in print and on television. He was famous for interviewing Osama bin Laden several times and also served as a media aide under Prince Turki al-Faisal, when the latter was director general of the Saudi intelligence agency. | |
| He left Saudi Arabia more than a year ago to live in self-imposed exile in the US, where he spoke out against the new leadership of the de facto ruler, crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. | |
| In one of his articles published last year, he said he had left the country to raise his voice. “To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot,” he wrote. | In one of his articles published last year, he said he had left the country to raise his voice. “To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot,” he wrote. |
| The veteran journalist had previously expressed concerns about his safety. Khashoggi told the Wall Street Journal after leaving Saudi Arabia: “It was becoming so suffocating back at home that I was beginning to fear for myself.” | |
| Saudi authorities detained scores of businessmen – including members of the royal family – in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, in what was billed as a campaign against corruption. | |
| Among those held in detention was prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who owned al-Arab news channel, an Arabic-language service run by Khashoggi. Alwaleed had been critical of King Salman’s moves to empower his son, the crown prince. | |
| The Washington Post’s opinions editor, Eli Lopez, said in a statement that the newspaper had been unable to reach Khashoggi and was concerned about his whereabouts. | |
| “We are monitoring the situation closely, trying to gather more information. It would be unfair and outrageous if he has been detained for his work as a journalist and commentator,” Lopez said. | “We are monitoring the situation closely, trying to gather more information. It would be unfair and outrageous if he has been detained for his work as a journalist and commentator,” Lopez said. |
| Jason Rezaian, a commentator for the Washington Post whose imprisonment in Iran drew international attention, wrote in support of his fellow columnist Khashoggi. “Over the past year, Saudi authorities – led by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman – have claimed to be undertaking a process of reform. | |
| “Troubling developments from the community of activists inside the country, however, tell a vastly different story. | |
| “Those pushing for change – whether they are women’s rights activists, journalists or ethnic minorities – report being systematically harassed by the authorities.” | “Those pushing for change – whether they are women’s rights activists, journalists or ethnic minorities – report being systematically harassed by the authorities.” |
| A US state department spokesperson said they had seen the reports from Istanbul and were “seeking more information at this time”. | A US state department spokesperson said they had seen the reports from Istanbul and were “seeking more information at this time”. |
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