Khashoggi fiancee gives moving tribute to murdered partner

The Turkish fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has made her first comments since Saudi authorities admitted that he was killed in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul.
2 min read
20 October, 2018
Cengiz was due to marry Khashoggi this month [Getty]
The Turkish fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has made her first comments since Saudi authorities admitted that he was killed in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul.

Hatice Cengiz, who was due to marry Khashoggi this month, gave a moving tribute to her slain partner in online statements on Saturday.

"May God have mercy on your soul my sweetheart Jamal, may He make your home the highest paradise with Hamzah, chief of the martyrs," Cengiz tweeted in Arabic.

"The hearts will mourn and eyes weep over your departure my sweetheart Jamal,"

The heartfelt eulogy came hours after Riyadh finally admitted that the critical writer was killed inside its Istanbul consulate, claiming he died during a "row" - a narrative that has been widely regarded as implausible.

The admission came after two weeks of vehement denials and growing pressure from the international community on Saudi Arabia to reveal the fate of the journalist.

Khashoggi was last seen on October 2 entering his country's consulate in Istanbul to finalise divorce paperwork so he could marry Cengiz.

Since his disappearance, Cengiz has been subjected to scathing attacks from Saudi media outlets, which have attempted to paint her as a "Qatari-Turkish agent" determined on damaging the reputation of the kingdom.

Saudi-funded Al-Arabiya, accused her of having links to radical organisations.

Cengiz was the first to sound the alarm over Khashoggi's disappearance after he failed to re-emerge from the consulate as she waited outside for him.