In a harrowing journey marked by tragedy and danger, Hanan Elatr, the widow of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has been granted political asylum in the United States. Reports reveal that Elatr sought refuge in the US out of fear for her safety following the tragic demise of her husband.
The saga began in August 2020 when Elatr arrived in the US and subsequently applied for asylum, citing concerns for her life after the death of her husband, Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and vocal critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Khashoggi’s outspoken views on the crown prince’s repressive tactics against dissenters and adversaries led to his brutal murder by Saudi officials.
After more than three years since her initial application, Elatr was granted indefinite asylum status on November 28, a move that brought a glimmer of relief amid profound loss. Speaking to the BBC, Elatr expressed a bittersweet sentiment, acknowledging the victory in gaining asylum while grappling with the irrevocable loss of her husband: “Yes, they took Jamal’s life, and they destroyed my life, but we did win.”
Elatr’s asylum plea underscored the grave threats she faced in her native countries, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where her family encountered detainment, mistreatment, and passport confiscation due to her association with Khashoggi. She recounted distressing incidents, including being detained and interrogated in the UAE and having sophisticated spyware installed on her phones before Khashoggi’s tragic murder.
The widow expressed disbelief at the reality of her circumstances, stating to The Washington Post, “I couldn’t really believe it… I said, ‘Is this real?’ I couldn’t digest it,” emphasizing that despite the tragic loss of her husband, she remains a surviving victim of this heinous act.
Acknowledging the US administration’s role in granting her asylum, Elatr conveyed gratitude to President Biden and his administration. Her relief from the constant fear for her safety is a testament to the sanctuary that asylum status offers amid the persistent threat.
The chilling events leading to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder unfolded within the walls of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. A team of Saudi agents, including government officials and security officers, orchestrated his killing, according to investigations conducted by the United Nations and Turkish officials.
The Biden administration’s declassification of a report in 2021 directly implicated Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in approving the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, contradicting the country’s denial of his direct involvement. Despite this revelation, the US opted to grant immunity to the Saudi crown prince in lawsuits related to the brutal killing.
Amid these developments, Hanan Elatr’s grant of political asylum offers a semblance of security, a respite in the aftermath of the devastating loss of her husband, and serves as a poignant reminder of the pursuit of justice in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
