Eight years after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, his family and supporters denounce MBS's impunity

On October 2, 2018, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi — known for his regular criticism of the Saudi monarchy in his writings, particularly in the pages of the Washington Post — was killed in Istanbul. According to CIA findings, he was murdered by Saudi agents acting on orders from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The assassination provoked a wave of international outrage, reigniting criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record and questions about the accountability of its leaders.

A gathering in Washington

Eight years after the killing, those close to Jamal Khashoggi gathered in Washington to denounce what they see as the persistent impunity enjoyed by the Saudi crown prince, as well as his gradual rehabilitation within Western diplomatic circles.

The gathering comes as several Western governments have, over the years, rebuilt close diplomatic and economic ties with Riyadh, drawing criticism from human rights organizations and those close to the victim, who view it as a form of accommodation with the Saudi regime.

The Khashoggi affair thus continues, eight years on, to weigh on relations between Saudi Arabia and some of its Western partners, caught between diplomatic imperatives and the demands for justice raised by those close to the assassinated journalist.