Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that the Saudi authorities had ignored Turkish contacts since the disappearance of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Aktay told the Shehab News Agency that “the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and Saudi authorities ignored our contacts from the first moment Khashoggi disappeared and did not respond to the calls.”
He added: “As if the Saudi authorities were asleep and there was a strange silence at a time when the news of Khashoggi’s disappearance was spread in the world.” Aktay condemned the Saudi consulate’s announcement to open its doors to the media four days after the incident. He wondered: “Why did not the consulate open its doors at first? Unless there is something that they hid and waited for a few days,” as he put it.
Aktay said that the Saudi authorities’ response, coming four days after Khashoggi’s abduction “does not mean anything,” noting that the silence of the consulate and the Saudi consul himself during the past few days raises many doubts.
Aktay stressed that his country would prosecute all those involved in the issue of kidnapping or killing writer Khashoggi, “even if it is the Saudi consul himself or Saudi officials.” He said: “Every Saudi official proven to be involved in this incident by the investigations will be tried. Turkey is a state of law and prosecutes anyone who commits crimes in its territory.”
“We will demand to bring all those involved in this case to trial. This will be a file between Saudi Arabia and us,” he added.
On the fate of the writer Khashoggi, Erdogan’s adviser confirmed that “some indicators are suggesting that he was killed, and some indicators that show that he is still alive.” Aktay commented on the statements of the Turkish President that there are “positive expectations” in the case of Khashoggi and said: “The President wants to be optimistic and does not want to reach an irreversible stage,” referring to the security leaks of the media that Khashoggi was tragically murdered.
The head of the “Turkish-Arab Media Association in Turkey,” Turan Kislakci, told Shehab News Agency that Turkish officials assured him that Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate.
The Turkish President’s adviser described the kidnapping and killing of Khashoggi as “an insult not only to Turkey but also to the world that consulates and diplomatic immunity are exploited to commit these crimes.” He said that this is a violation of the principles and values of the world, especially since “Khashoggi is a journalist and intellectual and has many supporters.”
Aktay said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s decision to allow inspection of the Saudi consulate a few days after Khashoggi’s disappearance showed “contempt for Turkey.” Aktay clarified: “This is not enough to answer what happened at the consulate. Certainly, he did not come out of the consulate naturally, unless he came out unnaturally, which means that there are attempts to hide some things, such as the fact that he was kidnapped, killed or taken out in one way or another.”
Aktay said that if Khashoggi were killed inside the consulate, the kingdom would not be taken seriously as a state.
He described the kidnapping and murder as “a failed and foolish operation that reflects ignorance, inexperience and lack of success.” He insisted: “To insult the man who comes to the consulate and kill him at your home is one of the worst acts and gravest sins.”
Aktay stressed that Turkey remains the “safe country” and that what happened with Khashoggi occurred in the territory of the Saudi consulate, which is under the control of Saudi Arabia.” He emphasized that Turkey is “a safe country, but there is no solution to the problem of traitors.”