The fiancée of late Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi told ABC News on Tuesday that Khashoggi was initially nervous to enter the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul when he first arrived unannounced on Sept. 28 to put in a request for documents need to marry Hatice Cengiz.
As a Saudi dissident, Khashoggi was concerned he might be arrested for his work.
“He thought of the possibility of them capturing him,” she told ABC. “He didn’t want to face the consequences of his political views.”
But after a warm reception from Saudi officials inside the consulate, his concerns dissipated and he entered the consulate on Oct. 2 without hesitation, Cengiz said, and was never seen again.
“Our second visit was full of hope and it was the last step to our union,” she said. “We were going to get the official paper and we were going to get married and continue rest of our lives together.”
That, of course did not happen. Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi officials, who claim the writer died as a result of an “altercation.” The Turkish government claims it has audio footage of Khashoggi being interrogated, tortured, killed and dismembered.
Watch ABC’s full interview with Cengiz here.
My heart goes out to her. She will never see him again and will receive no justice for this atrocity.
And now this @nicole_lafond
A local (to me) sideshow
Heartbreaking.