TRT World Forum's session to discuss Khashoggi murder

TRT World Forum, set to take place on Oct. 21-22 in Istanbul, will host a session on Jamal Khashoggi murder and its effect on changing geopolitical balance in the Middle East, TRT director general told Anadolu Agency.

"This is a black mark in history, and the 3rd TRT [Turkish Radio and Television] World Forum will host a special session on Jamal Khashoggi murder to discuss the changing geopolitical balance in the Middle East in connection with the death of Saudi journalists," Ibrahim Eren said.

The special session of the forum will host experts, including AK Party Chairman Advisor Yasin Aktay and Turan Kislakci who had close relations with Khashoggi, Eren added.

In October 2018, after entering the consulate to get a marriage certificate, Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was killed and his body dismembered by a group of Saudi operatives, according to reports by the UN and other independent organizations.

After weeks of denying involvement, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi had been killed at the consulate, but claimed that the royal family had no prior knowledge of a plot.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently accepted responsibility for the killing, but denied ordering it.
Forum's main theme 'Globalization in Retreat: Risks, Opportunities'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will make opening remarks of TRT World Forum 2019 on Oct. 21.

This year, journalists, academics and politicians will meet to discuss forum's main theme "Globalization in Retreat: Risks and Opportunities".

"Our aim is discuss recent crucial political, economic and social issues across the world as we always do.

The forum panels will hold sessions on the right-wing terrorism, the rise of populism and nationalism, the future of the Middle East, trade wars, the future of the EU and the cooperation among emerging powers," Eren said.

"We would like discuss possible solutions to of global political and humanitarian problems," he said and added: "For instance, we know that rising Islamophobia lately causes hostility towards immigrants and it is a global threat. Most of the terror attacks are related to populism and white supremacist ideology, as in Christchurch mosque terror attack in New Zealand".

Eren added that they will also host valuable guests from different parts of the world including Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Malaysian People's Justice Party leader Anwar Ibrahim, former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho, former first Muslim British Minister and a senior Conservative member of the House of Lords Sayeeda Warsi, and former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying.

Following the forum, the organizers produce materials such as reports, books and videos compiling the results of the discussions, which also contribute to the academic literature, said Eren.