MIT defends Saudi Arabia ties in wake of Khashoggi murder

As the reverberations of the Jamal Khashoggi murder continue, Saudi Arabia has found an ally: MIT. The top university released a report declaring it wishes to continue its relationship with the Kingdom, despite its egregious human rights violations, of which the murder is just the latest. Penned by Professor Richard K. Lester, Associate Provost for International Activities, the report, ordered by the university President Rafael Reif in October, begins by detailing the extent of MIT-Saudi Arabia collaboration. It falls under three categories: sponsored research (the largest one), philanthropic relationships, and miscellaneous activities. A majority of institutions in all three categorises are either fully or partially state-owned. "Regarding MIT’s Saudi activities, I recommend the following course of action." Lester wrote. "1. We should continue to welcome outstanding Saudi students and researchers, as well as appropriate Saudi visitors, to our campus. 2. I recommend against terminating any of our existing engagements with private Saudi donors and sponsors. 3. I also recommend against terminating our relationships with the Saudi government agency KACST, the state-owned enterprise Aramco, and SABIC, a public company majority-owned by the state." He acknowledged that the third point was particularly controversial, given the companies' government ties. Yet he defended his position on the basis that they were not directly implicated in Khashoggi's murder. On the contrary, he argued that Saudi donors and research partners work with MIT "on terms that honor the Institute’s principles and comply with our policies". He even made a case that MIT aids Saudi women, in that those who work or study at the Institute "will surely be at the vanguard of social change in that country". In an earlier open letter in The Tech, the campus newspaper, a group of political science students demonstrated the opposite view. "... At this point, MIT’s continued collaboration with the Saudi government sends the message that human rights violations can be overlooked in favour of financial considerations ... And it enables the regime to profit off of MIT’s reputation," they wrote. "This both grants the kingdom impunity and damages MIT’s reputation." This view is shared by many. Once widely vaunted by Western leaders as a progressive, the country's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is increasingly coming under attack for his ignoble pursuits. Saudi Arabia continues to have the estimated fourth highest rate of executions in the world. While women are now allowed to drive, they remain unable to travel freely without a male guardian's permission and are subject to a strict dress code. MBS' corruption purge is now seen as a mere power-grab, and the country's bombing of Yemeni civilians is thought to be a human rights atrocity. What gave Lester and Reif pause for thought, however, was that at the time of Khashoggi's death, the university was contemplating 'significantly' expanding its ties with the Kingdom. Also, one of the alleged assassins visited MIT in March this year, as a security aide to MSB. The report is open for comment until 15 January, whereupon Reif will make a final decision on the university's ties with the Kingdom. MIT is far from being the only institution with Saudi connections. Many other colleges, not to mention countries and corporations, have vested interests in the monarchy.

MIT defends Saudi Arabia ties in wake of Khashoggi murder

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