Sons of Jailed Saudi Scholars Urge Cambridge to Drop Riyadh Staff Training Plans

The University of Cambridge is facing a backlash over its plans to provide staff training for Saudi Arabia's defence ministry. The sons of two jailed Saudi scholars, Hassan Farhan al-Maliki and Salman al-Odah, have written to the university's chancellor, Chris Smith, and vice-chancellor, Prof Deborah Prentice, urging them to drop the proposal. They're highlighting the kingdom's poor human rights record, including the execution of at least 356 people last year, which is the most in the kingdom's modern history.

The two scholars have been imprisoned since 2017 and are facing the death penalty on a range of vaguely formulated charges. Al-Maliki, a religious reformer and commentator, was accused of holding interviews with overseas media and possessing banned books. He didn't have permission to hold these interviews, and the books he possessed were prohibited. Al-Odah was arrested on the basis of his social media posts and accused of mocking the government's achievements. He's been detained for years, and his family's concerned about his well-being.

The university's Judge business school has been authorised to offer leadership development and innovation management training for the Saudi defence ministry's staff. However, the proposal has been met with internal opposition within the university, with senior academics expressing their horror at the plan. Jemimah Steinfeld, the chief executive of Index on Censorship, has described the proposal as repugnant. She says that even if an agreement is fleshed out to protect academic freedom, self-censorship has a terrible habit of creeping in when money is on the line. It's a risk that the university can't afford to take.

The sons of the jailed scholars, Abobaker Almalki and Abdullah al-Odah, have called on the university to insist that Saudi Arabia ends its repression of freedom of expression and releases those who are being prosecuted for their beliefs as a pre-condition for engagement. They said: We feel compelled to reach out as families who have spent years watching our loved ones suffer for exercising the very freedoms that the university stands to protect. They're worried about their family members' safety and well-being.

The proposal has sparked a heated debate about the university's values and its commitment to academic freedom. The university's committee on benefactions and external and legal affairs, which scrutinises proposals for reputational risk, approved a request by the Judge business school to seek a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi ministry of defence to develop executive education courses. Documents seen by The Guardian show that Judge business school officials have sought and received permission from the benefactions committee to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi ministry, despite internal opposition. This decision hasn't gone down well with everyone, and it's clear that there are concerns about the university's reputation.

The University of Cambridge has declined to comment on the letter, referring to a previous statement by the business school, which said that it had not signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Arabia defence ministry. However, the controversy has highlighted the challenges faced by universities in balancing their academic values with their financial interests. They can't afford to compromise on their values, but they also need to consider their financial situation. It's a difficult decision, and one that the university must get right.

As the university considers its next move, it's clear that the decision will have significant implications for its reputation and its commitment to academic freedom. The university's vice-chancellor, Prof Deborah Prentice, has a crucial role to play in shaping the university's response to the controversy. Prentice, who has been in the role since 2020, has been a strong advocate for academic freedom and has spoken out against the erosion of academic values. She won't back down on this issue, and she'll fight to protect the university's values.

The controversy has also sparked a wider debate about the role of universities in promoting academic freedom and human rights. Jeed Basyouni, of the Reprieve human rights organisation, said: Universities pride themselves on being the home of free thought and academic debate. Even in the face of external pressure, freedom of speech is meant to be upheld as a foundational principle of higher education. It's essential that universities stand up for what they believe in, even if it's difficult.

The case of the two jailed Saudi scholars has highlighted the risks faced by academics and commentators who speak out against authoritarian regimes. The university's decision will be closely watched by human rights organisations and academic communities around the world. They're waiting to see what the university will do, and they won't hesitate to speak out if they don't like the decision.

The controversy has sparked a heated debate about the university's values and its commitment to academic freedom. As the university considers its next move, it's clear that the decision will have significant implications for its reputation and its commitment to academic freedom. The university can't afford to make a mistake, and it must consider all the options carefully. It won't be an easy decision, but it's one that the university must make. The university's reputation is at stake, and it must protect it at all costs.