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Abdullah Khashoggi, 33, and his brother, Salah, 35, pleaded for Saudi Arabia to return their father's body during an interview with CNN in Washington.
- The sons of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi spoke out for the first time since his murder on October 2, issuing an emotional plea for the return of their father's remains.
- Salah Khashoggi, 35, a dual US-Saudi citizen, and his brother Abdullah, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, spoke to CNN in an interview which aired Sunday and described the last few weeks of uncertainty.
- The brothers said they were disturbed by the depiction of their father following his death, and say their father has been misrepresented for political reasons.
- They described their father as "courageous, generous and very brave," and said they still have faith in the Saudi King to bring their father's killers to justice.
The sons of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi spoke out for the first time since his murder at the Saudi consulate last month, calling their father "courageous, generous and very brave," and issuing an emotional plea for the return of their father's remains.
Salah Khashoggi, 35, a dual US-Saudi citizen, and his brother Abdullah, 33, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, spoke to CNN in an interview which aired Sunday and described weeks of uncertainty following their father's disappearance on October 2.
"I really hope that whatever happened wasn't painful for him, or it was quick. Or he had a peaceful death," Abdullah said.
Istanbul's chief prosecutor last week said for the first time publicly that Khashoggi was strangled shortly after he entered the consulate and that his body was later dismembered. They still have not recovered his remains.
Without his body, the family cannot conduct a proper burial or move past the horrific murder.
"All what we want right now is to bury him in Al-Baqi (cemetery) in Medina (Saudi Arabia) with the rest of his family," Salah said. "I talked about that with the Saudi authorities and I just hope that it happens soon."
Where is Khashoggi's body?
"Khashoggi's body was not in need of burying," the official said, according to The Post.
Earlier theories floated that Khashoggi's body was wrapped up in some kind of fabric and given to a local Turkish co-conspirator.
On Sunday, a report by a Turkish pro-government newspaper said that Khashoggi's body was dismembered and put into five suitcases after he was strangled in Istanbul.
Khashoggi's sons say they want to defend their father's honor
(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
On Sunday, Khashoggi's sons said they were disturbed by the depiction of their father following his death, and say he has been misrepresented for political reasons.
"I see a lot of people coming out right now and trying to claim his legacy and unfortunately some of them are using that in a political way that we totally don't agree with," Salah said.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly told White House adviser Jared Kushner and National Security Adviser John Bolton that Khashoggi was a "dangerous Islamist" during a phone call just days after the Saudi journalist went missing. And some US conservatives attempted to label him an extremist due to an interview he conducted with late Al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden early in his career as well as his expressed sympathies for political Islam.
"Our source is the same source that you have. It is a mystery," he said. "This is putting a lot of burden on us -- all of us. That everybody is seeking for information just as we do. They think that we have answers, and unfortunately we don't," Salah said.
"It's confusing and difficult," Abdullah said. "It's not a normal situation and not a normal death."
Still, the brothers expressed confidence in the Saudi King. "The King has stressed that everybody involved will be brought to justice, Salah said. "And I have faith in that."