On February 25, an intelligence report declassified by the Biden administration confirmed the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Prince Muhammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia ordered and approved the kidnapping and murder of Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, in Oct 2018.

Khashoggi was a columnist for The Washington Post, living in self-exile in the United States. As often as he criticized the Salman government, his opinions about their corruption and violations were the most likely the reason for his assassination.

The Assassination

According to The Guardian, Khashoggi was in Istanbul to finalize his marriage with his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz. To continue his marriage, he needed to confirm the divorce with his previous wife from the Saudi Consulate.

During his wait for the divorce officials, Saudi Security Team arrested Khashoggi. Reported by Turkish Police to Middle East Eye, Prince Salman’s bodyguards were among whoever took part in the killing. Meanwhile, audio recordings show cruelty and torture towards Khashoggi in the consul general’s office, alive. MME anonymous source heard of Khashoggi’s fingers presented to Prince Salman to affirm his death.  Among this information, five unidentified people were sent to death in the Saudi government trial for Khashoggi’s murder. The prosecution failed to implicate high-ranking Saudi officials who had a part in the operation.

Taking Accountability

Since the release of the report, it has led to the creation of The Khashoggi Ban. This will restrict government officials and their families visas involved in the suppression of journalists or dissidents. Although progressing, Khashoggi’s fiancée and many others believe the ban is not a harsh enough punishment for the Kingdom.

Moreover, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “What we’ve done by the actions that we’ve taken is not to rupture the relationship, but to recalibrate it, to be more in line with our interests and our values”. He added, “I think that we have to understand as well that this is bigger than any one person”.

Above all, former-President Donald Trump has been a vocal supporter of the Crown Prince. In Rage by Bob Woodward, Trump boasted, “I saved his ass.” He continued, “I was able to get Congress to leave him alone. I was able to get them to stop.”