Family members of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the Turkish city of Istanbul a week ago, expressed optimism towards results of ongoing joint investigations by Turkish authorities and a team of Saudi investigators.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, legal consultant Mu'tasim Khashoggi, who happens to be the Jamal's cousin, was surprised by the number of people jumping to conclusions and spreading false news related to the disappearance.
Khashoggi accuses false news provokers with insensitively advancing personal agendas on the expense of the captive’s family.
“Everyone forgot about Jamal and his family and relatives, instead they are looking after their agendas and perceptions that are not important now,” he added.
“What is important now is the safety of this missing man,” he said.
"We are optimistic, but as we have seen in the media, everyone whether concerned or not exploits the incident and is politicizing it in a bad, unprofessional and immoral manner, forgetting that this person is a Saudi citizen with a family ... forgetting about his sons, daughters and grandchildren,” he said, criticizing the politicized media bonanza surrounding the disappearance.
“It affects them (Jamal’s family) directly, we suffer a lot from what is happening."
“The family does not acknowledge or listen to any information if it is not issued by Saudi authorities, placing full confidence in their country’s efforts and measures taken by the Kingdom to search for Jamal,” Khashoggi confirmed
“The kingdom’s highest authority echelons are following up Jamal’s case.”
“We are confident in Saudi investigations and actions taken by the Kingdom and its officials,” said Khashoggi stressing that authorities remain the solely reliable source for information.
Khashoggi hinted that the missing journalist’s family, in coordination with Saudi authorities, began pursuing necessary legal steps in both the Kingdom and abroad against anyone who hurt the Khashoggi family or promoted misleading information.
“We have started legal action at home and abroad in coordination with the Saudi government against anyone who harmed us, the family, Jamal, or our country," he said.
