The Central Intelligence Agency concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering his country's consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018. The journalist and political commentator had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States, writing columns that frequently scrutinized the domestic and foreign policies of his home nation.
Early Career and Education
Born in Medina in 1958, Khashoggi pursued his higher education in the United States, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Indiana State University in 1982. Following his graduation, he began a professional career in media and communications. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he held various editorial positions at prominent Arab newspapers, including Al Madina and Arab News, while serving as a foreign correspondent in conflict zones across the Middle East and Afghanistan.
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Khashoggi became an influential voice in the Arab press, eventually leading the newspaper Al-Watan in 2003. His columns often advocated for freedom of expression and criticized the Saudi government's crackdown on dissent. By 2017, he had relocated to the United States and began contributing to The Washington Post. His writing challenged several state policies, including the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen and the diplomatic disputes involving Qatar, Lebanon, and Canada.
Final Years and Death
After departing Saudi Arabia in September 2017, Khashoggi frequently utilized his platform to criticize the ruling establishment, specifically naming King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On 2 October 2018, he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to secure documents required for his marriage. He did not emerge from the building. Following initial denials by the Saudi government, officials later confirmed the death was a premeditated act of murder.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Medina
- Died: 2018, Istanbul
- Education: Indiana State University
- Primary Employers: Al-Watan, The Washington Post
- Language proficiency: English, Arabic
- Religious affiliation: Sunni Islam
- Award: Time Person of the Year (2018)
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the 2018 Time award?
Time magazine named Khashoggi a 'Guardian of the Truth' and Person of the Year, recognizing him alongside other journalists who faced systemic political persecution.
Did the Saudi government acknowledge his death?
After initially denying the incident, the Saudi attorney general eventually admitted that the murder inside the Istanbul consulate was premeditated.
