On Saturday, pro-government Turkish newspaper Sabah reported that Turkish officials have audio recordings of the torture and murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist who went missing on October 2nd after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul and is presumed dead at the hands of a Saudi hit squad. The newspaper claims that Khashoggi recorded his own death on his Apple Watch and transmitted the audio files to his iPhone, held by his fiancée on the street outside the consulate.
That’s a memorable but unlikely story. Smartwatches connect to cellphones via Bluetooth, and it’s doubtful a signal could travel that far, and the likely recording app only transfers audio files after the watch wearer turns it off, a hard task for the deceased. If Turkish agents have such recordings, it’s most likely because they have the Saudi consulate bugged, and they spread the watch story as cover.
Mr. Khashoggi was a permanent resident of the U.S., so maybe the American ambassadors to Turkey and Saudi Arabia can look into the matter. Oh wait, President Trump still hasn’t appointed anyone to those crucial diplomatic posts.
More:
‘Dubious Apple Watch link to Jamal Khashoggi ‘killing,'” Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC
“The Trail of Clues in the Disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi,” Analji Singhvi, Christiaan Triebert, Malachy Browne, and Carlotta Gall, New York Times
“Jamal Khashoggi: Washington Post blanks out missing Saudi writer’s column,” BBC
“Saudi Arabia won’t be able to sweep the Jamal Khashoggi case under the rug,” Alexia Underwood, Vox
“Turkish Officials Say Khashoggi Was Killed on Order of Saudi Leadership,” David D. Kirkpatrick and Carlotta Gall, New York Times
“The Growing Crisis Over a Saudi Journalist’s Disappearance,” Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic
“Please, President Trump, shed light on my fiance’s disappearance,” Hatice Cengiz, Washington Post
“Saudi summit in crisis as Khashoggi case prompts mass withdrawals,” Patrick Wintour, The Guardian
“Mnuchin to attend Saudi conference despite Khashoggi disappearance,” Michael Sykes, Axios
“After journalist vanishes, focus shifts to young prince’s ‘dark’ and bullying side,” Karen DeYoung and Kareem Fahim, Washington Post
“‘Our Hands Can Reach You’: Khashoggi Case Shakes Saudi Dissidents Abroad,” Ben Hubbard, New York Times
“Jamal Khashoggi Wasn’t the First — Saudi Arabia Has Been Going After Dissidents Abroad for Decades.” Sarah Aziza, The Intercept
Related:
“Saudi Media Casts Khashoggi Disappearance as a Conspiracy, Claims Qatar Owns Washington Post,” Lee Fang, The Intercept
“‘I love the Saudis’: Trump business ties to kingdom run deep,” Bernard Condon, Stephen Braun and Tami Abdollah, Associated Press
“Two princes: Kushner now faces a reckoning for Trump’s bet on the heir to the Saudi throne,” Philip Rucker,Carol D. Leonnig, and Anne Gearan, Washington Post
“Trump’s Weak Khashoggi Response Tells Dictators They Can Get Away With Murder,” Jonah Shepp, New York Magazine
“Will you work for a murderer? That’s the question a host of ex-generals, diplomats and spies may soon face.” Fred Hiatt, Washington Post
“Pro wrestling is thrust into Saudi controversy as calls mount to cancel event in Riyadh,” Siobhán O’Grady, Washington Post
“Trump reluctant to cancel arms sales to Saudis,” Associated Press
“Journalists around the world are under attack,” Zachary Basu, Axios
Update:
“As America’s Élite Abandons a Reckless Saudi Prince, Will Trump Join Them?” Robin Wright, The New Yorker
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