The latest
- Canada is imposing sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals in connection to journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s death, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. The sanctions do not mention Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Ms. Freeland didn’t directly answer a question about whether Canada believes he was behind the Oct. 2 killing, as U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded.
- The U.S. government has targeted the same 17 people – the 15-person kill team, the Saudi consul-general in Turkey and a former top aide to the Crown Prince – under its Magnitsky human-rights law. President Donald Trump has been under pressure to do more, but he ruled out other punitive measures earlier this month and said Washington would support the Saudis even if the Crown Prince knew about the killing.
- Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is taking a tougher stand against the Saudis. In a bipartisan resolution on Nov. 28, which passed 63-37, senators supported legislation calling for an end to American involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The vote showed a significant number of Republicans were willing to break with Mr. Trump to express their deep dissatisfaction with Saudi Arabia and with the U.S. response to Mr. Khashoggi’s brutal killing.
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, shown in Bahrain in 2015.Hasan Jamali/The Associated Press
Who was Jamal Khashoggi?
Jamal Khashoggi, 59, was a Saudi journalist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has led a widely publicized drive to reform the conservative Sunni monarchy but has also presided over the arrests of activists and businessmen. Mr. Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for the U.S. last year in a self-imposed exile, saying he feared retribution for his criticism of Riyadh over the Yemen war and its crackdown on dissent. He lived in Virginia and wrote columns for The Washington Post.
His last Post column, submitted by his translator the day after he was reported missing and published in The Globe and Mail on Oct. 19, was uncannily prophetic about the issues surrounding his disappearance. Mr. Khashoggi wrote about the Arab world’s need for freedom of expression, and denounced governments who “have been given free rein to continue silencing the media at an increasing rate.” He called for transnational media institutions to foster reform, like Radio Free Europe during the Cold War. “We suffer from poverty, mismanagement and poor education,” the column’s final sentences read. “Through the creation of an independent international forum, isolated from the influence of nationalist governments spreading hate through propaganda, ordinary people in the Arab world would be able to address the structural problems their societies face.”
What happened on Oct. 2? A visual guide
According to surveillance footage obtained by
U.S. and Turkish media, the disappearance of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Oct. 2 was preced-
ed by a 15-person unit from Saudi Arabia arriving
in Istanbul and followed by frenzied activity that
remains the subject of controversy.
OCTOBER 1
Oct. 1:Khashoggi travels to Istanbul to
pick up documents at the Saudi consulate.
His plan is to marry his Turkish fiancée,
Hatice Cengiz.
1
Oct. 2, 3:28 a.m.:The first of two small jets
carrying members of a Saudi team arrives at
Ataturk Airport.
2
BRITAIN
Khoshaggi
London
POLAND
Private jet 1
1
FRANCE
ITALY
Istanbul
SPAIN
TURKEY
Med. Sea
IRAN
IRAQ
2
Departure:
Oct. 1, 11:40 p.m.
Arrival:
Oct. 2, 3:28 a.m.
Riyadh
S. ARABIA
0
450
KM
Note: Flight paths are approximate. All times are local.
Oct. 2, 5:05 a.m.:The Saudi group checks in
at Mövenpick and a nearby hotel.
Oct. 2, 9:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.: The Saudis
leave the hotel in two groups just over an
hour apart
3
Oct. 2, 1:14 p.m.:Khashoggi is seen enter
ing the Saudi consulate; his fiancée waits
outside.
4
Oct. 2, 4:00 p.m.:Half a dozen vehicles
leave the consulate; two vehicles with diplo-
matic plates enter the nearby consul’s resi-
dence.
5
Saudi
consul’s
residence
5
ISTANBUL
Levent
Tennis
Club
Mövenpick
Hotel
3
Consulate of
Saudi Arabia
4
0
50
M
OCTOBER 2-3
Oct. 2:Over the course of late afternoon and
evening, the Saudi group leaves the hotels
and the country on two private jets.
6
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
Private jet 1
Istanbul
6
Private jet 2
TURKEY
Med. Sea
IRAQ
IRAN
Cairo
Dubai
EGYPT
UAE
Riyadh
0
450
S. ARABIA
KM
MURAT YÜKSELIR AND JOHN SOPINSKI / THE
GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPEN
STREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; HIU; PLANE FINDER;
BING MAPS; THE NEW YORK TIMES; BBC; BBC
TURK; ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
According to surveillance footage obtained by
U.S. and Turkish media, the disappearance of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Oct. 2 was preced-
ed by a 15-person unit from Saudi Arabia arriving
in Istanbul and followed by frenzied activity that
remains the subject of controversy.
OCTOBER 1
Oct. 1:Khashoggi travels to Istanbul to
pick up documents at the Saudi consulate.
His plan is to marry his Turkish fiancée,
Hatice Cengiz.
1
Oct. 2, 3:28 a.m.:The first of two small jets
carrying members of a Saudi team arrives at
Ataturk Airport.
2
BRITAIN
Khoshaggi
London
POLAND
Private jet 1
1
FRANCE
ITALY
Istanbul
SPAIN
TURKEY
Med. Sea
IRAN
IRAQ
2
Departure:
Oct. 1, 11:40 p.m.
Arrival:
Oct. 2, 3:28 a.m.
Riyadh
SAUDI
ARABIA
0
450
KM
Note: Flight paths are approximate. All times are local.
Oct. 2, 5:05 a.m.:The Saudi group checks in
at Mövenpick and a nearby hotel.
Oct. 2, 9:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.: The Saudis
leave the hotel in two groups just over an
hour apart
3
Oct. 2, 1:14 p.m.:Khashoggi is seen enter
ing the Saudi consulate; his fiancée waits
outside.
4
Oct. 2, 4:00 p.m.:Half a dozen vehicles
leave the consulate; two vehicles with diplo-
matic plates enter the nearby consul’s resi-
dence.
5
Saudi
consul’s
residence
5
ISTANBUL
Levent
Tennis
Club
Mövenpick
Hotel
3
Consulate of
Saudi Arabia
4
0
50
M
OCTOBER 2-3
Oct. 2:Over the course of late afternoon and
evening, the Saudi group leaves the hotels
and the country on two private jets.
6
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
Istanbul
Private jet 1
6
Private jet 2
TURKEY
Med. Sea
IRAQ
IRAN
Cairo
Dubai
EGYPT
UAE
Riyadh
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; HIU
0
450
S. ARABIA
KM
MURAT YÜKSELIR AND JOHN SOPINSKI / THE
GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPEN
STREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; HIU; PLANE FINDER;
BING MAPS; THE NEW YORK TIMES; BBC; BBC
TURK; ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
According to surveillance footage obtained by U.S. and Turkish media, the disappearance of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Oct. 2 was preceded by a 15-person unit from Saudi Arabia
arriving in Istanbul and followed by frenzied activity that remains the subject of controversy.
OCTOBER 1
Oct. 1:Khashoggi travels to Istanbul to pick up documents at the Saudi consulate. His plan is to
marry his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.
1
Oct. 2, 3:28 a.m.:The first of two small jets carrying members of a Saudi team arrives at Ataturk
Airport.
2
0
450
BRITAIN
RUSSIA
KM
London
POLAND
GERMANY
UKRAINE
1
FRANCE
Black Sea
ITALY
Istanbul
SPAIN
TURKEY
Mediterranean Sea
IRAN
IRAQ
2
Departure:
Oct. 1, 11:40 p.m.
Arrival:
Oct. 2, 3:28 a.m.
SAUDI
ARABIA
ALGERIA
EGYPT
Riyadh
Khoshaggi
Private jet 1
Note: Flight paths are approximate. All times are local.
Oct. 2, 5:05 a.m.:The Saudi group checks in at Mövenpick and a nearby hotel.
Oct. 2, 9:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.:The Saudis leave the hotel in two groups just over an hour apart
3
4
Oct. 2, 1:14 p.m.:Khashoggi is seen entering the Saudi consulate; his fiancée waits outside.
Oct. 2, 4:00 p.m.:Half a dozen vehicles leave the consulate; two vehicles with diplomatic plates
enter the nearby consul’s residence.
5
Saudi consul’s
residence
Black Sea
5
Consulate of Saudi Arabia
ISTANBUL
Ataturk
Airport
Istanbul
Sea of
Marmara
Levent
Tennis
Club
0
15
KM
Mövenpick
Hotel
3
AKASYALI SK.
Consulate of
Saudi Arabia
4
AKAGAC SK.
0
50
METRES
OCTOBER 2-3
Oct. 2:Over the course of late afternoon and evening, the Saudi group leaves the hotels and the
country on two private jets.
6
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; HIU
0
450
RUSSIA
Black Sea
KM
Istanbul
6
TURKEY
IRAN
IRAQ
Cairo
EGYPT
Dubai
Riyadh
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
UAE
Private jet 1
SAUDI
ARABIA
Private jet 2
MURAT YÜKSELIR AND JOHN SOPINSKI / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: TILEZEN; OPEN
STREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS; HIU; PLANE FINDER; BING MAPS; THE NEW YORK TIMES; BBC;
BBC TURK; ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
On Oct. 18, the pro-government Turkish newspaper Sabah published surveillance images showing a man linked to the Saudi Crown Prince’s entourage walking toward the Istanbul consulate at 9:55 a.m., just before Mr. Khashoggi disappeared there. Sabah’s report also showed the same man outside the Saudi consul general’s home, checking out of a Turkish hotel and then leaving Turkey later that day.The Associated Press
Another image published by Sabah shows the man at the Istanbul airport at 5:58, nearly four hours after Mr. Khashoggi was last seen.The Associated Press
Turkey vs. Saudi Arabia: The bigger picture
Saudi Arabia is one of the Middle East’s major superpowers, along with Iran, and its foreign investment and political activities extend into all parts of the region – including Turkey, where Saudi investments are a crucial lifeline for Ankara amid trouble with its national currency, the Turkish lira. The prospect of a Saudi-orchestrated killing on Turkish soil has raised tensions between Ankara and Riyadh, but the two sides are walking a fine line of diplomacy over the issue.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not directly accused the Crown Prince of being behind the killing, but he has dismissed Riyadh’s attempts to pin the blame on the suspects arrested by Saudi law enforcement. Mr. Erdogan is also pressing for those suspects to be tried in Turkish courts, setting up further complications with the Saudi government, which has said it is conducting its own investigation and will punish those involved.
Oct. 10, 2018: Alyssa Edling, centre, and Thomas Malia, second from right, both with PEN America, join others as they hold signs of missing Mr. Khashoggi during a news conference in front of The Washington Post headquarters.Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press
How the U.S. is reacting
- Donald Trump: The U.S. President has close ties to the extended Saudi royal family, who have invested millions of dollars in Trump-branded real estate properties in the United States and around the world. Though he has condemned the killing, his statements about who is responsible have been cautious and equivocal: For instance, after speaking with the Saudi king on Oct. 15, Mr. Trump suggested, without offering evidence, that “rogue killers” may have been behind Mr. Khashoggi’s death. He has also rebuffed calls from some in Congress to cancel arms sales to the kingdom.
- Senate: Legislators, including some Republicans, have been restive about Mr. Trump’s handling of the Khashoggi case. On Nov. 28, they sent a strong signal that they want to punish Saudi Arabia: By a bipartisan 63-37 vote, senators opted to move forward with legislation calling for an end to U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
- Treasury: Washington rarely imposes sanctions on Saudi nationals, but on Nov. 15 it singled out 17 people for their role in the Khashoggi killing: The 15-person kill team, a former top aide to the Crown Prince and the Saudi consul-general in Turkey. The sanctions, which limit access to the U.S. financial system, are being made under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption.
How Canada is reacting
Relations between Ottawa and Riyadh have been strained since August, when Canada’s Global Affairs Ministry tweeted urging the Saudis to release two female activists detained in the country. The Saudi government responded by expelling Canada’s ambassador to the country, suspending new trade deals, barring the import of Canadian wheat and cancelling scholarships for thousands of Saudi students in Canada.
Using its Magnitsky act, Canada introduced sanctions against 17 Saudi nationals, the same 17 targeted by the U.S. sanctions. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the sanctions on Nov. 29 at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. It’s unknown whether any of the 17 actually have any assets in Canada. The sanctions don’t mention the Crown Prince, and Ms. Freeland didn’t directly answer a question about whether Ottawa believes the prince was involved.
The Trudeau government is also pausing new weapons-export permits for Saudi Arabia, but it has not cancelled a $15-billion deal to sell light armoured vehicles to the kingdom. The Prime Minister has been under pressure from the opposition and human-rights groups to scrap the deal, but he has said the penalty for doing that would be “in the billions of dollars.”
Additional reading
Bessma Momani: True leaders must stop the Saudi Crown Prince’s normalization tour
Daoud Kuttab: Jamal Khashoggi and speaking truth to power in the Arab world
Globe editorial: Saudi Arabia must explain the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi
Compiled by Globe staff
With reports from Reuters, Associated Press, Reuters, The Canadian Press and Globe staff