ANKARA

Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi pro-reform journalist, vanished last week -- without leaving a trace -- after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

According to Turan Kislakci, head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association, the consulate has thus far failed to provide a convincing explanation as to Khashoggi’s whereabouts.

Who is Jamal Khashoggi? 

Born Oct. 13, 1958, Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi is a well-known writer, journalist and Washington Post columnist.

In 1982, Khashoggi earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana State University in the U.S.

Throughout the early 1980s, Khashoggi worked as a foreign correspondent in several countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria and Sudan.

Along with working for several well-known newspapers (including the London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat), Khashoggi served as deputy editor-in-chief for Arab News -- a Saudi-based English-language newspaper -- from the late 1990s until 2003.

Afterwards, he served as editor-in-chief for Saudi daily Al-Watan before resigning from the post in 2010 after winning international acclaim for his contributions.

He also served as media adviser to Prince Turki al-Faisal during the latter’s tenure as Saudi ambassador to London and Washington.

In recent years, Khashoggi ruffled feathers by supporting the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings -- which were opposed by the Saudi leadership -- and criticizing the current Saudi-led conflict in Yemen.