10-20-2018, 01:56 PM
![[Image: vertical-khashoggi-cover.jpg]](https://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/embed-lg/public/2018/10/19/vertical-khashoggi-cover.jpg)
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 'authoritarian rule' shortly before his death, in an interview published today following confirmation he died at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate.
The self-exiled 59-year-old also described some of the prince's aides, including since-dismissed media adviser Saud al-Qahtani, as 'very thuggish', saying that 'people fear them... you challenge them, you might end up in prison'.
Speaking off the record to a Newsweek journalist working on a story about the Saudi leadership, Khashoggi reiterated that he did not view himself as 'an opposition' - he just wanted 'a better Saudi Arabia'.
When asked if the international community could exert pressure on the crown prince, and protect the Saudi people from their ruthless leader, Jamal replied, 'That is our only hope.'
https://www.newsweek.com/jamal-khashoggi...ca-1178489
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...aides.html