Khashoggi family says unaware of fiancee

Dubai: The family of Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi, whose whereabouts have been a mystery since Tuesday, said they were not aware of the existence of a fiancee.

Reports have said Khashoggi walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for documents that would allow him to get married with to his fiancee Hatice (Khadija) Cengiz, a Turkish citizen who reported that he went missing.

However, the family insisted they did not know the woman presenting herself as his fiancee.

“We do not know her, we do not know from where she came and she is not connected to the family, and her statements and presence might be to push her own agenda,” Moatassam Khashoggi, the legal adviser to the family, told Al Arabiya English on Sunday.

The adviser said the family, which held a meeting in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, was in regular contact with the Saudi government regarding Jamal’s case.

“We trust the government and the actions it has taken and all the efforts being made in the case of Jamal Khashoggi. There is coordination with the government and the embassy in Ankara,” Moatassam said.

Some countries had tried to push their malicious agenda by exploiting this issue, he added.

“We know the objectives behind online media and frenzied news outlets that attack our country for negative purposes. We tell these people to remain silent as their purposes and intentions have failed.”

Moatassam added the family had taken legal action regarding Jamal’s disappearance in coordination with the Saudi government and warned against “reports and stories that have no truth and validity.”

“We are the sons of this country and the care we have received has been overwhelming.”

In another report, Al Arabiya said Salah Khashoggi, the eldest son of the missing columnist, has denounced attempts by foreign parties to politicise the disappearance of his father.

“The issue is that there is a Saudi citizen who has gone missing. We are cooperating with the Saudi authorities to uncover the circumstances,” Salah told the pan-Arab station.

“This is a personal matter and is far from a political framework. My family is looking for credible information. My last contact with my father was during his stay in Washington. I had no idea of his presence in Turkey and his recent trip,” Salah said.

He added that he was not aware of his father’s fiancee.

“I do not know this woman and I have never heard of her except through the media,” he was quoted as saying.

He called on the Turkish woman to stop meddling with his father’s case in the media. “We are his family and we inquire about the circumstances of his disappearance and the search for him,” he said.

Salah added that all members of his family support the official Saudi investigations which “will lead us to positive results and uncover the truth.”