Khashoggi disappearance: More journalists evade Saudi event

Riyadh, Oct 12: More and more journalists and media firms are pulling out of an three-day investment conference in Saudi Arabia as the outrage over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent journalist of the country in Turkey earlier this month.

Riyadh has come under increasing pressure since 59-year-old Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policies, went missing. He was last seen entering the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on October 2.

Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist has refused to participate in the Future Investment Initiative conference in the Saudi capital, CGTN cited an email from spokesperson Lauren Hackett. The event, called "Davos in the desert", will begin on October 23.

Ross Sorkin, an American journalist with New York Times and CNBC anchor, said in a tweet that he was skipping the conference since he was "terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder".

I’m terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder. I will no longer be participating in the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh.

— Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) October 11, 2018

The New York Times Co has also decided to not be a sponsor of the event, spokesperson Eileen Murphy said, CGTN reported.

Bob Bakish, CEO of Viacom Inc, who had a speech at the conference, has also decided to skip the programme, company spokesman Justin Dini informed.

Media companies like CNN and Bloomberg were set to attend the conference, the event's website said.