WASHINGTON – The admission by Saudi Arabia Friday evening that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey was stunning but left many with questions.
For weeks, the regime has issued a variety of statements denying any knowledge of Khashoggi’s disappearance. Meanwhile, reports continued to mount detailing the role Saudi officials played in Khashoggi’s brutal death and dismemberment.
In the end, Saudi Arabia admitted the columnist, who was critical of the regime and lived in Virginia, died in its consulate. Eighteen people were arrested in the incident.
Here are the back and forth statements given by the Saudis since Khashoggi’s disappearance on Oct. 2:
He visited and ‘exited shortly thereafter’
The first statements given by Saudi officials denied any knowledge over Khashoggi’s disappearance. He went to the consulate in Istanbul to go over some paperwork related to his upcoming marriage while his fiance waited for him outside.
His wife told The Washington Post he never came out.
Saudi officials told Reuters on Oct. 3 Khashoggi was “not in the consulate nor in Saudi custody.”
“Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate to request paperwork related to his marital status and exited shortly thereafter,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud sat down for an interview with Bloomberg on Oct. 3, welcoming an investigation.
More: A timeline of Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance
“We hear the rumors about what happened. He’s a Saudi citizen and we are very keen to know what happened to him,” he said. “And we will continue our dialogue with the Turkish government to see what happened to Jamal there.”
He emphasized that no one knew what happened to Khashoggi and they had “nothing to hide.
“We are ready to welcome the Turkish government to go and search our premises,” he said. “The premises are sovereign territory, but we will allow them to enter and search and do whatever they want to do. If they ask for that, of course, we will allow them. We have nothing to hide.”
Source: Read Full Article