On October 2, 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, to collect wedding-related documents but never emerged alive. He was later found to have been killed and his body dismembered inside the consulate. Despite various conflicting claims by the Saudi Arabian government, evidence eventually pointed to Khashoggi’s murder being premeditated, with the CIA attributing the assassination to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The UN later held Saudi Arabia accountable for Khashoggi’s extrajudicial execution.
Salman, denying prior knowledge of the murder, admitted some responsibility, stating it occurred under his watch. Subsequent interactions between Saudi Arabia and the US, including President Trump’s defense of Salman, have further complicated relations. Reports revealed disturbing details of Khashoggi’s final moments, including audio recordings of his brutal killing and subsequent disposal of his body parts. Despite speculations, the exact whereabouts of Khashoggi’s remains remain unknown.