The University of Cambridge boycotts the UAE for spying scandals
In the latest international condemnation of the UAE’s record of scandals and violations, British media announced that Cambridge University stopped its cooperation with the UAE, which includes investments of 400 billion pounds.
The Guardian reported that Cambridge University’s move came due to the scandals of the UAE authorities’ use of the Israeli Pegasus program to spy on activists and opponents inside and outside the country.
The newspaper quoted the university’s vice president, Stephen Top, as saying that its administration decided to stop talks and meetings with the Emirates regarding establishing cooperation, which was estimated at 400 million pounds ($545 million), after reports that the Emirati authorities had used the “Pegasus” program.
Top explained: “After publishing new data about Pegasus, we considered that now is not the right time to implement such ambitious lines related to the UAE.”
On the possibility of resuming cooperation talks at a later time, Top said that the university would not rush that, and there would be no secret arrangements, stressing that any upcoming action will be taken after good consultation.
The University of Cambridge announced a “potential strategic partnership” with the UAE last July as part of a deal that includes establishing a joint university and working on issues such as climate and energy.
The university praised the intended proposed deal, saying that this partnership “helps solve some of the biggest challenges facing the planet.”
On Wednesday, the High Court of England concluded that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, had instructed him to spy on the phones of his ex-wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, her lawyer and her security team.
The Israeli company (NSO) terminated its contract with the UAE to use the powerful government spying tool (Pegasus) because the ruler of Dubai was using it to hack the phones of his ex-wife and some close to her, her lawyers told the High Court of England.
