Jamal Khashoggi's Family Say They Forgive His Killers

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the kingdom's consulate in İstanbul and his body has never been found.

İstanbul

Jamal Khashoggi's Family Say They Forgive His Killers

Photo: AA/File

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The family of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi have said that they have forgiven those who killed their father.

"On this blessed night of the blessed month (of #Ramadan), we remember God's saying: 'If a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah'," son Salah Khashoggi said in a tweet.

"Therefore we the sons of martyr Jamal Khashoggi announce we forgive and pardon those who killed our father, seeking reward from God almighty."

Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed and dismembered by a group of Saudi operatives shortly after he entered the country's consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018.

Salah Khashoggi and Prince Salman meet after the murder. (Photo: AA/File)

Riyadh offered various, conflicting narratives to explain his disappearance before acknowledging he was murdered in the diplomatic building, while seeking to shift blame for his death on a botched rendition operation carried out by rogue agents.

Khashoggi's body has never been found.

UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Agnes Callamard concluded in an earlier report that Khashoggi's murder was a "deliberate, premeditated execution" and encouraged an investigation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Saudi officials, however, have insisted that the crown prince was not involved in the murder.

Saudi Arabia announced at the end of last year that five people have been sentenced to death for taking part in Khashoggi's murder.

What happened?

Journalist Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Beşiktaş, İstanbul on October 2, 2018. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially confirmed on October 20 that the journalist was killed inside the consulate.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office released a press statement on October 31, giving the following information:

"Jamal Khashoggi went to the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for paperwork related to his marriage on October 2, 2018. As soon as he entered the consulate building, in a premeditated murder, he was suffocated to death and his body was dismembered and destroyed."

About Jamal Khashoggi

Journalist and writer. Khashoggi was known for his opposing views about the Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. He was a columnist at the Washington Post.

After he expressed his criticism about the reforms introduced by bin Salman and drew reactions, he left Saudi Arabia in 2017 and moved to the US.

He worked as Director-General and Editor-in-Chief at the Al Arab Media Group. He was also a media consultant at the Saudi Arabia Embassy in England.

(AS/VK)