Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the wife of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is calling on the U.S. government to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia to retrieve her husband’s remains. The couple had been married in 2,018, just months before Jamal’s killing in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who fled to Turkey, was killed in October 2018 during an undercover visit to the consulate in Istanbul, where he was allegedly murdered by Saudi agents. His death sparked international outrage and led to widespread condemnation of Saudi Arabia’s actions.
As the U.S. continues its diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi’s public campaign for her husband’s remains has added another layer of complexity to the already strained U.S.-Saudi relationship. The family has been seeking closure, but the Saudi government has provided little information on the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s remains. Her advocacy highlights the ongoing challenges in holding Saudi officials accountable for the journalist’s death.
International human rights organizations and some lawmakers have also been pushing for transparency and accountability, emphasizing the need to bring justice to Khashoggi’s family. Despite the pressure, Saudi Arabia has remained defensive, maintaining that its actions were justified and that no wrongdoing occurred. The situation continues to fuel global debates about press freedom, government accountability, and the rule of law.