Khashoggi's fiancee receives police protection

By Elif Kucuk and Halil Demir

ISTANBUL

Istanbul’s governorate on Sunday ruled a protection order for Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.

The Istanbul Governor’s Office has ordered the protection for Cengiz, said a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

As part of the order, the Istanbul Police Department will give security to Cengiz, who is a doctoral student in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the national and international press members continue to wait in front of the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to receive further information about the killing of the Saudi journalist.

On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.