The Washington Post’s CEO and publisher Fred Ryan on Tuesday issued a new call for answers regarding the disappearance of Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, saying that the Saudi government “can no longer remain silent” and that “it cannot be business as usual” with Saudi Arabia until an explanation is provided.
Ryan also said in the statement that “it is essential that our own government and others push harder for the truth” about Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
“It has been two weeks since Jamal Khashoggi disappeared in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The government of Saudi Arabia owes the Khashoggi family and the world a full and honest explanation of everything that happened to him, and we support the requests from Jamal’s family and the United Nations for an independent internal investigation,” Ryan said in the statement.
“The Saudi government can no longer remain silent, and it is essential that our own government and others push harder for the truth. Until we have a full account and full accountability, it cannot be business as usual with the Saudi Government,” he added.
{mosads}Turkish officials have indicated they believe Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate on orders of the Saudi government.
Saudi Arabia has publicly denied involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance, but CNN reported Monday that the Saudi government was preparing a report saying that Khashoggi died inside the consulate during an interrogation gone wrong.
President Trump, however, has yet to blame Saudi Arabia for the incident and suggested Monday without evidence that “rogue killers” may be the reason for the columnist’s disappearance.