The District of Columbia is renaming the street in front of Saudi Arabia's embassy Jamal Khashoggi Way, in a message to Riyadh after agents from the country killed dissident Saudi activist and journalist in 2018.
One month before President Joe Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia, a Jamal Khashoggi Way sign was unveiled directly in front of the embassy's main entrance in Washington on Wednesday.
"We intend to remind the people who are hiding behind these doors ... that we hold them responsible and we will hold them accountable for the murder of our friend," said Sarah Leah Whitson, the executive director of DAWN, the pro-Arab world democracy organisation founded by Mr Khashoggi prior to his death.
Ms Whitson also criticised what she called the "shameless capitulation" of the Biden administration for seeking improved relations with the Saudi government and scheduling an official presidential visit to the kingdom.
Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 2018, seeking the necessary documentation for a planned marriage with his fiancee waiting outside for him. The 59-year old never emerged.
The Saudi government initially denied any wrongdoing. But under mounting international pressure, Riyadh eventually admitted that Mr Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate in what the Saudis characterised as a repatriation effort gone wrong.
The CIA later released a report concluding that Mr Khashoggi was killed and dismembered on the orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
The Saudi regime has consistently denied that connection. Several lower-level Saudi officials and agents received jail sentences over the killing.
The DC Council unanimously voted late last year to rename a one-block stretch after Mr Khashoggi. The renaming is ceremonial and it will not affect the embassy's mailing address, but the sign will remain indefinitely.
An email to the Saudi embassy seeking comment did not receive a response.
