Hatice Cengiz is a Turkish journalist and Middle East expert who has published academic articles and a book on the Gulf states. She is the widow of the slain Washington Post editor Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018. Since that day, Hatice Cengiz has been campaigning for the case to be solved. She is fighting for truth and justice for the murder of her fiancé and for the international community to hold those who ordered and planned the murder to account. She has taken her case to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Parliament, the US Congress and various other national parliaments.
As a human rights activist, she is committed to freedom of the press and accountability. She will be giving our second Helmut Schmidt Lecture in Berlin on 10 November and answered a few questions in advance:
Ms Cengiz, your life took an unexpected turn four years ago when your fiancé Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul while you were waiting for him outside. Can you describe what you have been through since then and where you are today?
For a long time, I found it difficult to realise what had happened. I feel like I'm in a nightmare. Explaining something extraordinary is just as difficult as understanding it. As the days passed, it became harder and harder to absorb. While I was still thinking about our marriage plans, I was suddenly the centre of world attention and the person to speak out.
I found it very difficult to face the media in the face of this terrible experience. In such a situation of despair and disappointment, you want to be alone because you assume that no one can feel the suffering you are experiencing. All I wanted was to be alone and try to understand and accept what had happened. But that wasn't possible, because I found myself part of this great and incredible assassination. Despite all the pain and despair, I thought that I had to talk and tell people what had happened. Later, I was still fighting for justice. I realised that I was now listening more attentively to the people who were talking about their suffering.
A show trial against the murderers of Jamal Kashoggi took place in Saudi Arabia, which international observers labelled a farce. The Turkish judiciary closed its investigation in April 2022. What chances do you see of the murder being atoned for and the real culprits being brought to justice? Who could bring the truth to light?
The truth is already out there, both Turkey and the US are reporting that the assassins were Saudi Arabian nationals. The UN rapporteur also said that Mohammed bin Salman gave the order. The Saudi authorities also admitted to the murder. However, no real results have yet been achieved in the administration of justice in this case, which involved the state and high-ranking state officials. Perhaps the reason is that countries put economic interests on the table first.
Despite what has happened and what could happen in the future, I am still hopeful about the lawsuit filed in the US. Seeking justice and continuing to talk about it is also a kind of justice. Because that's how these criminals are reminded of their crime every day and it's a great shame for them.
What needs to be done to keep the memory of the case alive?
The topic should be further emphasised and dealt with. It should be documented as much as possible and presented at events. People who fight for freedom should be encouraged. Jamal should be remembered; a memorial service should be held every year and a monument or institution could be opened in his honour.
Since February 2022, the world has been confronted with the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine, which has caused an energy crisis and seems to turn some rules upside down. What goes through your mind when you see the German Foreign Minister negotiating for oil in Saudi Arabia?
I believe the world is becoming more and more uninhabitable, but we can make sense of it. This can only be achieved by prioritising human values and the importance of human rights. Human beings are only meaningful creatures with their values. The most important thing that distinguishes us from other creatures is that we have feelings and values. Maintaining relationships with criminals means not only admitting guilt, but also normalising them.
What advice would you give to politicians in the current situation?
I would remind politicians to make politics more virtuous. The ones that history remembers most are the heroes who fight alongside the criminals or try to fight for their values. I know that not everyone can be a hero, but I can call on them to reintroduce moral values into politics.
The world order in which we live is experiencing serious upheavals. It gives humanity no hope. Remaining silent against injustice makes this order useless. In the end, it is justice and virtue that will save us. Everyone needs them, not just me.
Looking at Saudi Arabia today, how do you assess the current situation of press freedom and human rights?
After Jamal, the whole world is interested in what is happening in Saudi Arabia - I'm following it too. Jamal's murder went unpunished. The Saudi government continues to threaten the world with its money power. Every day we wake up to a new human rights scandal. Every day the news reports countless injustices and unfair trials. But I don't think Jamal's killers have received the punishment they deserve for the role they played in all of this. The current Saudi government believes that we are already done with this murder. That gives them the power to continue doing what they want.
How do you look to the future given the last four years and what you have been through? What plans and projects do you have?
This topic has been on my mind a lot, I've spent many hours thinking about what the future could be for me, talking to friends and family and getting their opinions.
It was impossible to continue my life as normal, as if nothing had happened, there are thoughts and feelings deep inside me that tell me that I now have a duty to fulfil. I need to fight for justice. In order to move on, I need to share my experience and what I have been through with others, make them aware, support and perhaps lead them.
Therefore, with the support of some close friends, I am in the process of finding an organisation that will stand up for me and for those who have been deprived of their human dignity and rights. The work will continue, the call for justice will not stop, we have our voices to raise and never stop.
I will always strive to listen, help and support those who suffer or are oppressed.
Short biography
Hatice Cengiz has studied and lived in Egypt, Oman, Jordan and the UK. She is a freelance columnist for various international editorial offices such as the Washington Post and HuffPost and the author of numerous books. She now lives in Istanbul.
Since the death of Jamal Khashoggi, she has been a sought-after interview partner.
A selection of international interviews:
The New Yorker, 15 August 2019
Die Zeit, 2 October 2019
Der Spiegel, 21 November 2020
Deutsche Welle, 20 November 2020
Book publications:
Onuş, S., & Ersoy, M. (2019). As Told by His Fiancée Hatice Cengiz: Jamal Khashoggi, Behind the Murder of the Century. Kopernik Inc. ISBN-13: 978-6058093539.
Cengiz, H. (2018). Umman'da Sultan Kâbus Döneminde Mezhepler Arası Bir Arada Yaşama Örneği. Istanbul: Marmara Reklam ve Paz. Ltd. Şti. ISBN-13: 978-6052456330.