Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée urges Joe Biden to hold Saudi Arabia accountable three years after killing

Hatice Cengiz unveiled a portrait of the writer in Washington during a ceremony marking the third anniversary of his murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul

She also voiced dismay over Biden’s national security adviser’s meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince who US intelligence says ordered the killing

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Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz unveiled a portrait of the slain journalist on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Friday. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:10pm, 2 Oct 2021Updated: 8:15pm, 2 Oct 2021

Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée on Friday questioned US President Joe Biden’s commitment to hold the kingdom accountable three years after the writer’s brutal murder.

Marking the anniversary, Hatice Cengiz travelled to Washington for a demonstration outside the Saudi embassy and an evening vigil near the US Capitol where she unveiled a portrait of Khashoggi made out of newspaper columns.

She voiced dismay that days ahead of the anniversary, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who US intelligence says ordered the killing.

“Is this what the accountability that Biden promised looks like?” she asked at the candlelight vigil organised by rights groups.

“MBS took Jamal from me and the entire world. Will you hold him accountable or will you reward these murderers?” she said, referring to the 36-year-old heir apparent by his initials.

Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi who lived in self-exile in the US, wrote critically about MBS in columns in The Washington Post.