Turkish newspaper Sabah has published new details of a recording which reportedly captured the final moments of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi government critic, was killed in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul last October.
The pro-government Sabah newspaper says the transcript is from a recording taken inside and later obtained by Turkish intelligence.
The transcript includes information such as Jamal Khashoggi’s alleged last words.
The Saudi journalist wrote a column for the Washington Post and was based in the US before his disappearance.
Jamal Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 to obtain papers he needed to marry his Turkish fiancée.
The journalist’s mysterious death piled scrutiny on Saudi Arabia, which released conflicting information regarding his disappearance in the aftermath.
Saudi authorities have since blamed a “rogue” operation for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and put 11 men on trial.
The Sabah has consistently made international headlines by carrying details – including some that have been disputed – about Khashoggi’s mysterious death.
The newspaper published two new reports this week into Jamal Khashoggi’s death at the hands of a group they label a “hit squad”.
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The Sabah latest report details information from the alleged recording.
The report includes details such as a forensic expert, part of a team sent from Saudi Arabia, allegedly referring to Jamal Khashoggi as an “animal to be sacrificed” prior to his arrival.
The Sabah report says Jamal Khashoggi, once inside in the consulate, became suspicious and was told he had to return to Riyadh because of an Interpol order.
According to the newspaper, Jamal Khashoggi allegedly refused to comply with the group’s requests, which included texting his son, and was then drugged.
The journalist reportedly then told his killers, in his last words, to not keep his mouth closed because of his asthma, but then lost consciousness.
Jamal Khashoggi was suffocated with a bag put over his head, the Sabah reports, with the sounds of a scuffle allegedly picked up by the recording.
They Turkish newspaper also alleges the tape captured his alleged dismemberment at the hands of the forensic expert.
Reports of the existence of audio recordings from Jamal Khashoggi’s death have been around since last year.
Turkish officials have publicly confirmed their existence and say they have shared them with international governments but is unclear how the Sabah apparently obtained them.
Almost a year on from his death, Jamal Khashoggi’s body has not been recovered despite international pressure.
Earlier this year, a UN expert on extrajudicial killings called for an independent and impartial investigation into his death.
Special rapporteur Agnes Callamard described Jamal Khashoggi’s death as a “deliberate, premeditated execution” and alleges “the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible” and should be investigated.
The Saudi government rejected Callamard’ report and have consistently denied those responsible for the death were acting on official orders.
