a number of high profile businesses pulling out of an investment conference hosted by saudi arabia. the future investment initiative kicked. off in riyadh on tuesday but it was overshadowed by questions over the killing of journalist jamal khashoggi among the prestigious figures who decided not to attend were u.s. treasury secretary stephen minutiae i.m.f. chief christine legarde and the c.e.o. of germany's siemens joe qasr. kayser took his time before announcing he'd pull out of the event allegations of saudi involvement in cars shook his death forced his hand in his events was one of several business giants that found themselves caught between morality and profit companies that pulled out included j.p. morgan and ford exactly how many guests cancelled is still unclear the organizers removed a list of planned speakers from their website just what i hope we value forceful