By Umar Farooq
WASHINGTON (AA) – The Saudi Embassy in Washington canceled its annual celebration of the country's National Day, according to multiple reports Monday.
The embassy reportedly sent an email to attendees saying the event, originally scheduled for Thursday was canceled, but did not give a reason.
The embassy has yet to respond to Anadolu Agency for comment.
Saudi National Day is a holiday in Saudi Arabia that celebrates the renaming of the country by King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud in 1932.
The move comes amid outcry about the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2.
Also on Oct. 2, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the building while Khashoggi was also inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of what happened to Khashoggi, while several countries — particularly Turkey, the U.S., and the U.K. — are pressing for the mystery to be cleared up as soon as possible.
On Monday, Turkish and Saudi officials arrived at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul for a joint probe of into Khashoggi.
