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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/oct/11/natural-history-museum-london-saudi-embassy-jamal-khashoggi
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| Natural History Museum defends hosting Saudi embassy event | Natural History Museum defends hosting Saudi embassy event |
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| The Natural History Museum has defended an event it is hosting for the Saudi embassy in London amid mounting global outrage about the disappearance in Istanbul of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. | The Natural History Museum has defended an event it is hosting for the Saudi embassy in London amid mounting global outrage about the disappearance in Istanbul of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. |
| The museum said Thursday night’s reception to celebrate Saudi Arabia Day was booked two months ago and that none of its staff would attend. | The museum said Thursday night’s reception to celebrate Saudi Arabia Day was booked two months ago and that none of its staff would attend. |
| It said commercial events were an “important source of external funding” in response to accusations that it was accepting Saudi “blood money” following Khashoggi’s suspected killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the kingdom’s continuing bombing of civilians in Yemen, and its use of the death penalty to enforce its anti-homosexuality laws. | It said commercial events were an “important source of external funding” in response to accusations that it was accepting Saudi “blood money” following Khashoggi’s suspected killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the kingdom’s continuing bombing of civilians in Yemen, and its use of the death penalty to enforce its anti-homosexuality laws. |
| The museum has attempted to distance itself from the reception – which will be hosted by the Saudi ambassador to London, Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz – but said it would not cancel the event. | The museum has attempted to distance itself from the reception – which will be hosted by the Saudi ambassador to London, Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz – but said it would not cancel the event. |
| A statement said: “Enabling commercial events to take place outside of public opening hours in our iconic spaces brings the museum an important source of external funding, which allows us to maintain our position as a world-class scientific research centre and visitor attraction. We hold a wide variety of commercial events and it is made clear to any host that doing so is not an endorsement of their product, service or views.” | A statement said: “Enabling commercial events to take place outside of public opening hours in our iconic spaces brings the museum an important source of external funding, which allows us to maintain our position as a world-class scientific research centre and visitor attraction. We hold a wide variety of commercial events and it is made clear to any host that doing so is not an endorsement of their product, service or views.” |
| The news emerged after the Guardian columnist Owen Jones was contacted about the event. Jones said: “It’s been leaked to me that the Natural History Museum is hosting a reception for the Saudi embassy tonight, 7-9pm. The Saudi dictatorship is massacring thousands in Yemen and is currently accused of kidnapping and murdering a journalist. The NHM must cancel and apologise.” | The news emerged after the Guardian columnist Owen Jones was contacted about the event. Jones said: “It’s been leaked to me that the Natural History Museum is hosting a reception for the Saudi embassy tonight, 7-9pm. The Saudi dictatorship is massacring thousands in Yemen and is currently accused of kidnapping and murdering a journalist. The NHM must cancel and apologise.” |
| Andrew Smith, from the Campaign Against Arms Trade, said the museum “should not be hosting a regime which has been accused of killing journalists and is inflicting a humanitarian catastrophe on the people of Yemen”. | |
| He added: “The Saudi authorities have a contempt for human rights, and events like this will undoubtedly be regarded as an endorsement. It’s time for the Museum to take a stand.” | |
| Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, said: “Conducting business as usual with the Saudi regime normalises its crimes and emboldens it to continue its policy of repression and abuse.” | |
| Polly Truscott, Amnesty International UK’s foreign affairs expert, said the museum should be “extremely wary of allowing its facilities to be used in any way that might appear to dignify human rights violations”. | |
| She also urged the UK government against sending any of its officials to the event. | |
| Sarah Hayward, a former leader of Camden council in north London, said Saudi money was an important source of revenue for many of London’s museums. But in tweet she said the Natural History Museum “should know better”. | Sarah Hayward, a former leader of Camden council in north London, said Saudi money was an important source of revenue for many of London’s museums. But in tweet she said the Natural History Museum “should know better”. |
| The Saudi Government have long been funders of our big national museums. Particularly since the cuts to museum funding under Tory austerity. They understand culture as a means of pushing politics and aren't afraid to use it. Orgs like NHM should know better. | The Saudi Government have long been funders of our big national museums. Particularly since the cuts to museum funding under Tory austerity. They understand culture as a means of pushing politics and aren't afraid to use it. Orgs like NHM should know better. |
| The row illustrates how the growing allegations of Saudi involvement in Khashoggi’s abduction or murder are straining relations between the UK and its oil-rich ally. | The row illustrates how the growing allegations of Saudi involvement in Khashoggi’s abduction or murder are straining relations between the UK and its oil-rich ally. |
| On Wednesday the US called on Saudi Arabia to be “transparent” about Khashoggi’s fate. | On Wednesday the US called on Saudi Arabia to be “transparent” about Khashoggi’s fate. |
| Natural History Museum | Natural History Museum |
| London | London |
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| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| Museums | Museums |
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