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Natural History Museum defends hosting Saudi embassy event Natural History Museum defends hosting Saudi embassy event
(35 minutes later)
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 as global outrage grows 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 the reception on Thursday to celebrate Saudi Arabia Day was booked two months ago and 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 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 reception will be hosted by the Saudi ambassador to London, Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz.
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 museum’s refusal to cancel the event has prompted calls from human rights campaigners for a protest outside it.
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.” In a statement, the museum 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.
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”. “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.”
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.” The news emerged after the Guardian columnist Owen Jones was contacted about the event. “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,” he said.
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.” The Campaign Against Arms Trade and Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) plan to demonstrate outside the event.
We are calling for a protest tonight at 6:30 outside @NHM_London, who are hosting an event for the #SaudiArabian embassy. We wrote to the Museum urging them to cancel the event in light of the forced disappearance of #Jamal_Khashoggi (Revealing a copy of the invitation) pic.twitter.com/X9BLezRZ5O
Andrew Smith from CAAT 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”.
“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,” he said.
“We will be outside to send the message loudly and clearly that it is never acceptable for world-famous museums to host and legitimise human rights-abusing regimes and dictatorships.”
Sayed Alwadaei, the director of Bird, 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”.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. She also urged the British government not to send any 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, said Saudi money was an important source of revenue for many of London’s museums, but 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 shows how allegations of Saudi involvement in Khashoggi’s suspected killing are straining relations between the UK and its 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 MuseumNatural History Museum
LondonLondon
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Journalist safetyJournalist safety
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
MuseumsMuseums
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