The widow of slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Hatice Cengiz, has won political asylum in the United States.
This is a stunning victory for Cengiz, who is a vocal advocate for her late husband’s causes and has been outspoken in her criticism of the government of Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Cengiz had been living in exile in the United States since 2019, shortly after her husband’s murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Khashoggi was killed in October 2018, and his murder sparked an international crisis as evidence suggested that it was carried out at the behest of the Saudi government. Cengiz had dedicated herself to finding out who was responsible for her husband’s death and seeking justice for him ever since.
The decision to grant Cengiz asylum in the United States was made by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In a statement, USCIS said that it had “carefully examined” Cengiz’s asylum application and determined that she met all necessary requirements for the grant.
“We have determined that Ms. Cengiz meets the requirements for a grant of asylum under U.S. law,” the statement said. “We sympathize with her loss and are grateful for her courage in speaking out against violence and injustice in her native country.”
Cengiz has been welcomed in the United States and has received an outpouring of support from people across the world. Her fight for justice for her late husband will undoubtedly continue, and this significant victory in her political asylum will help her in her quest.
