Jamal Khashoggi was already married, claims ‘secret wife’
- Journalist was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul while supposedly picking up papers for a planned marriage to another woman
An Egyptian woman says she married Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a religious ceremony in the United States this year, months before he was killed at a Saudi consulate in Turkey while seeking papers needed to marry a different woman.
In an interview, the woman said she was coming forward to reveal her relationship with Khashoggi because “as a Muslim wife, I want my full right and to be recognised”.
She spoke on the condition that she be identified only by her first initial and last name, H. Atr, citing concern for her security and her job.
As a Muslim wife, I want my full right and to be recognised
Atr provided The Washington Post with text messages she and Khashoggi exchanged and photos of them together, including some from their wedding ceremony, which took place in June in a Washington suburb.
A long-time associate of Khashoggi who took part in the ceremony as a witness confirmed Atr’s account. He also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Members of Khashoggi’s family declined to comment. His Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, said she was not aware of Khashoggi’s relationship with Atr and questioned her motives.
“Jamal never told me about this woman,” Cengiz said. “Why is she trying to change the picture people have of Jamal? What does she want? … I suspect that this is an attempt to discredit him and hurt his reputation.”
If she were to establish that she was Khashoggi’s legitimate wife, Atr could be in a position to claim part of any compensation his family collects from the Saudi government. The legal status of Atr’s marriage to Khashoggi is unclear, however – neither appears to have obtained a marriage licence.