Khashoggi Murder Tapes (Missing Recordings 2018)

Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian journalist, author, and a former general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel. He also served as editor for the Saudi Arabian newspaper Al Watan, turning it into a platform for Saudi Arabian progressives.

Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 in order to obtain documents related to his planned marriage. As no CCTV recorded him exiting the consulate, he was declared a missing personundefined amid news reports claiming that he had been dismembered alive inside the consulate.undefined An inspection of the consulate, by both Saudi Arabian and Turkish officials, took place on 15 October. Turkish officials found evidence of "tampering" during the inspection and evidence that supported the belief that Khashoggi had been killed. Initially, the Saudi Arabian government denied the death and claimed that Khashoggi had left the consulate alive but 18 days later said that he had died inside during a fistfight. This was contradicted on 25 October when Saudi Arabia's attorney general stated that the murder was premeditated.undefinedEighteen Saudis were arrested, including the team of fifteen who had been sent to "confront him".undefinedThere is concern that many Saudi critics have gone missing in suspicious ways. The US president and several US senators remain divided as to which, if any economic or other sanctions should be applied to Saudi Arabia.

On 31 October a statement released by Istanbul's chief prosecutor said that Khashoggi had been strangled as soon as he entered the consulate building, and that his body was dismembered and disposed of. This was the first such accusation by a Turkish official. His body may have been dissolved in acid, according to Turkish officials.

On the 9th of November, Turkey had possession of the tapes proving that Khashoggi was killed.

No tapes has been released to the public and it remains lost for now.