Thread by @pressfreedom

Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power, #Saudi Arabia has murdered one journalist and jailed dozens, and is repeatedly accused of hacking.

This is the timeline of Saudi attacks on the press since Mohammed bin Salman was named Crown Prince in 2017.

THREAD ⤵️

In June 2017, Mohammed bin Salman was named Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

cpj.org/mideast/saudi-…

In September 2017, the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post hired #Saudi journalist #JamalKhashoggi.

@WashPostPR Later the same year, in December 2017, CPJ's annual census found 12 journalists jailed in #Saudi Arabia, double the previous year, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman cracked down on dissent.

Learn more about those 12 jailed journalists here: cpj.org/data/reports.p…

@WashPostPR In May 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman allegedly hacked Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos via WhatsApp using spyware.

Read CPJ's reporting on the crown prince’s alleged hacking of Bezos here: cpj.org/2020/01/saudi-…

@WashPostPR According to @citizenlab, on October 1, 2018, #Khashoggi's close associate Omar Abdulaziz was hacked, likely by the #Saudi government.

Read @citizenlab's findings here: citizenlab.ca/2018/10/the-ki…

@WashPostPR @citizenlab Then, on October 2, 2018, #Saudi operatives murdered #JamalKhashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in #Istanbul.

Over a year later, there has yet to be #JusticeForJamal.
cpj.org/data/people/ja…

@WashPostPR @citizenlab Following #JamalKhashoggi's brutal murder, US senators invoked the 2012 Magnitsky Act on October 10, 2018.

The Magnitsky Act required Present Trump to investigate and determine within 120 days if a foreign person is responsible for #Khashoggi's death.

@WashPostPR @citizenlab On November 15, 2018, the US Department of Treasury sanctioned 17 #Saudi individuals, not including the crown prince, for their alleged roles in #Khashoggi's murder.

@WashPostPR @citizenlab The next day, on November 16, 2018, the CIA concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered #Khashoggi's assassination.

@WashPostPR @citizenlab On November 20, 2018, President Trump stood behind US ties to #Saudi Arabia despite the killing of #Khashoggi.

"It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said.

@WashPostPR @citizenlab On December 1, 2018, CPJ found 18 journalists imprisoned in #Saudi Arabia — 6 more than the previous year.

Learn more here: cpj.org/data/reports.p…

@WashPostPR @citizenlab On June 19, 2019, a UN special rapporteur's report found #Saudi Arabia responsible for #Khashoggi's "premeditated extrajudicial execution."
cpj.org/2019/06/US-UN-…

@WashPostPR @citizenlab @AgnesCallamard On December 1, 2019, CPJ found at least 26 journalists imprisoned in #Saudi Arabia, making it the world's third worst jailer of journalists (tied with Egypt, after China and Turkey).
cpj.org/reports/2019/1…

@WashPostPR @citizenlab @AgnesCallamard Then, on Jan. 22, 2020—this past Wednesday—UN special rapporteurs @AgnesCallamard & @davidakaye called for an investigation into the alleged hacking of Bezos' phone, which they describe as "an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post's reporting on Saudi Arabia."

@WashPostPR @citizenlab @AgnesCallamard @davidakaye See the full timeline of #Saudi attacks on the press since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power.

You can find more CPJ reporting on Saudi Arabia here: cpj.org/mideast/saudi-…
infogram.com/saudi-attacks-…

@WashPostPR @citizenlab @AgnesCallamard @davidakaye CPJ joins UN human rights experts in calling for an investigation into the alleged hacking of The Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.