I will stay loyal to my country, says son of murdered Saudi journalist Khashoggi

The son of slain Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Salah Khashoggi, has released a statement pledging loyalty to Saudi Arabia's leadership on Monday.

"I will be as Jamal Khashoggi was, loyal to God, then to my country and its leadership,” Salah Khashoggi said on Twitter after highlighting his utmost confidence in the Kingdom’s system to bring the perpetrators of his father’s murder to justice.

“A year has gone since the death of my beloved father. During this time, several enemies of my country in the east and the west tried to exploit his cause to attack my homeland and leader," the late journalist's eldest son said on Twitter, adding that he will not allow his memory to be undermined.

Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. Saudi Arabia initially denied any knowledge of his whereabouts after he went missing but later attempted to blame his death on a team of rogue operatives carrying out a botched rendition operation and put 11 men on trial.

According to reports by the UN and other independent organizations, he was murdered and dismembered. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accepted responsibility for the killing, but denied ordering Khashoggi’s murder.

The killing has sparked international outcry with the UN calling for an investigation into the role of bin Salman in carrying out the operation. Khashoggi’s remains have not yet been found.