Audio recordings reveal sickening conversation Saudi hit squad had on day they murdered Khashoggi

Khashoggi

We now have even more details about the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the form of recordings of the Saudi hit squad before, during and after the killing.

Just under a year ago on October 2, 2018 Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi knocked on the door of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey where he was forcibly pulled inside, seated in a chair and murdered before being butchered so his body could be carried out in pieces and disposed of.

Despite the Saudi Crown Prince being implicated in the slaying, President Donald Trump let him off the hook, demonstrating his contempt for journalists and his desire to please the Saudis to benefit his own business interests.

Now recordings of Khashoggi’s murder have come to light thanks to Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, a transcript of which has been published by The Daily Sabah.

Prior to the arrival of Khashoggi, hit squad member Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb spoke briefly with Dr. Salah Muhammed Al-Tubaigy about how Khashoggi’s body would be dealt with after the assassination.

Mutreb: Is it possible to put the body in a bag?

Al-Tubaigy: No. Too heavy, very tall too. Actually, I’ve always worked on cadavers. I know how to cut very well. I have never worked on a warm body though, but I’ll also manage that easily. I normally put on my earphones and listen to music when I cut cadavers. In the meantime, I sip on my coffee and smoke. After I dismember it, you will wrap the parts into plastic bags, put them in suitcases and take them out (of the building).

That’s exactly what happened after the Saudis suffocated Khashoggi to death using a plastic bag. Khashoggi can be heard informing his killers that he has asthma and that if they sedate him they should leave his mouth open so he can breathe.

Prior to that, however, the Saudi hit squad member tells Khashoggi to leave a text message for his son.

Mutreb: Leave a message for your son.

Khashoggi: What should I tell my son?

Mutreb: You will write a message, let’s rehearse; show it to us.

Khashoggi: What should I say, ‘see you soon’?

Unidentified hit squad member: Cut it short.

Mutreb: You will write something like ‘I’m in Istanbul. Don’t worry if you cannot reach me.’

Khashoggi: I shouldn’t say kidnapped.

Unidentified hit squad member: Take your jacket off.

Khashoggi: How can such a thing take place at a consulate? I’m not writing anything.

Unidentified hit squad member: Cut it short.

Khashoggi: I’m not writing anything.

Mutreb: Write it, Mr. Jamal. Hurry up. Help us so we can help you, because in the end we will take you back to Saudi Arabia and if you don’t help us you know what will happen eventually.

Khashoggi: There is a towel here. Will you have me drugged?

Al-Tubaigy: We will put you to sleep.

Of course, they had no intention of leaving Khashoggi alive. Instead, they killed him and then cut up his body to transport it in suitcases out of the consulate. The disturbing sound of an autopsy saw is even heard for around 30 minutes. None of the body parts have ever been found.

The revelation of the audio recordings is a stark reminder that Saudi Arabia is a human rights abuser and should still be punished by the United States for this crime. Instead, Trump completed an arms deal with Saudi Arabia and Republicans in Congress barely put up a fight to stop it. Trump would veto the bill and Senate Republicans refused to override it.

There is no justice for Khashoggi until Saudi Arabia pays for this state-sanctioned murder.

Featured Image: Wikimedia