HRW: Partnerships with the UAE whitewash its human rights violations
Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that any partnership with the UAE would whitewash its black record and human rights violations.
In a letter to Cambridge Univerity, the HRW called on considering implications of the University’s proposed 400 million pounds deal with the UAE, citing concerns about reputation whitewashing, freedom of expression, human rights abuses and its use of monitoring programs.
Although the University of Cambridge announced two months ago that the deal with the Emirates worth several million pounds is “on hold” for the time being, university officials said they would “consider over the next few months before making a further evaluation” of the deal.
The letter, sent jointly with the human rights nonprofit FairSquare, states that the University’s partnership with the state “will whitewash the reputation of a government that systematically imprisons critics and denies basic civil and political rights.”
The letter refers to human rights groups describing the UAE as a country with “extremely repressive laws” in which “freedom of expression” is “crushed” and there is an “absence” of an independent judiciary.
Human Rights Watch also reiterated concern about the UAE’s use of the Israeli Pegasus spyware.
The letter calls for several steps to be taken if the partnership is to move forward. These include the University’s demand that the UAE provide “clear public support to ensure the protection of academic freedom,” pledging not to censor anyone affiliated with the University from criticizing the UAE.
The letter also advises that the University ensure that professors and students affiliated with the University are not denied entry to the UAE because of their criticism or speaking out in support of academics and activists imprisoned in the UAE.
In October, British media announced that the British University of Cambridge had suspended cooperation talks with the UAE, including investments of 400 billion pounds.
The Guardian reported that Cambridge University’s move came after 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 UAE on 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 plans related to the UAE.”
On the possibility of resuming cooperation talks at a later time, Top said that the University will not rush that, and there will 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 the establishment of a joint university and works 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.”
The media published reports of leaked documents indicating that the UAE used the Pegasus designed by the Israeli company NSO to spy on more than 400 phone numbers registered in Britain, foremost of which is the phone of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the ex-wife of the country’s Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
