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Turkish Government Reveals Tapes Exist To Prove Jamal Khashoggi Murder

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UPDATE, 8:30 PM Pacific time: Turkish authorities have claimed they have recordings that prove journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered when he visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Turks have shared that information with US officials, according to the Washington Post.

The recordings were from inside the consulate, according to reports, and led the Turkish government o conclude Khashoggi was interrogated, beaten, tortured and finally killed.

Beyond the international ramifications for Saudi Arabias relationships with other countries, the revelation of the tapes will likely end plans to stage a media conference sponsored by the Saudi Arabia government later this month. Many sponsors and speakers have already withdrawn because of concerns over Khashoggis disappearance. Refresh for updates: STX CEO Bob Simonds is the latest to withdraw from a business conference in Saudi Arabia, following the unexplained disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has not been seen since going to meet the Saudi consulate general in Istanbul more than a week ago.

Earlier:

Four more major news organizations have withdrawn from a business conference in Saudi Arabia as questions about the role of the Saudi government in the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi continue to mount. CNN, CNBC, Financial Times and Bloomberg News confirmed Friday that they would not participate in the Saudi Future Investment Initiative conference. They join previously announced Viacom CEO Bob Bakish, The New York Times and its columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes and Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

PREVIOUS, 6:17 PM Thursday: Questions about the role of the Saudi Arabia government in the disappearance of a Washington Post-affiliated journalist have caused a number of prominent media companies and speakers to withdraw from a big business conference in the kingdom.

Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent journalist and critic of Saudi Arabia, was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 2. He has since gone missing and published reports have said he is believed to have been killed inside the embassy by Saudi security agents, then dismembered. The Saudi government maintains that he left the consulate the same day and is not in their custody.

The uproar over his disappearance intensified over the last few days, as prominent journalism organizations took up the cause and asked for an investigation. More than 30 journalism and free press organizations sent an open letter today to Saudi Ambassador to the US Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, demanding a “full investigation” into Khashoggis disappearance.

“The threat of violence, kidnapping or death to any journalist who is seeking the truth and reporting it is dangerous to freedom and democracy around the world,” said the letter. “It is of utmost importance that officials do everything in their power to find Khashoggi, return him to his fiancée and family and hold those responsible for his disappearance accountable.”

So far, confirmed withdrawals from the conference include Viacom CEO Bob Bakish, the New York Times and its columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, and Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong among prominent people pulling out of speaking or sponsoring at the event. Fox Business News is evaluating the situation, according to a spokesperson.

The Future Investment Initiative, nicknamed “Davos in the desert,” is hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The conference focus is part of his Vision 2030 initiative that aims to wean the kingdom from relying on oil revenues. The conference is scheduled October 23 and October 25 in Riyadh.

Other media partners for the Saudi investment conference include CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business Network, Financial Times, Nikkei and Al Arabiya. Journalists from Fox Business Network, CNN, CNBC and the Los Angeles Times were scheduled to speak.

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