Sons of jailed Saudi scholars urge Cambridge to drop plans to train Riyadh staff
The families of two jailed Saudi scholars have urged the University of Cambridge to abandon its plans to train staff for the Saudi defense ministry. They argue that such a partnership would legitimize the Saudi government's human rights abuses and undermine the university's values. The scholars, facing the death penalty, have been imprisoned for their expressions of free thought and academic debate.
- ▪The University of Cambridge plans to offer training courses for Saudi Arabia's defense ministry despite internal opposition.
- ▪The families of jailed scholars Hassan Farhan al-Maliki and Salman al-Odah have called for the university to halt the proposal.
- ▪Human rights organizations report that the Saudi authorities executed at least 356 people last year, the highest in the kingdom's modern history.
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View from top of Great St Mary's church tower in Cambridge. Senior academics have described the Judge business school’s proposal as ‘horrifying’. Photograph: Chris Harris/AlamyView image in fullscreenView from top of Great St Mary's church tower in Cambridge. Senior academics have described the Judge business school’s proposal as ‘horrifying’. Photograph: Chris Harris/AlamyUniversity of CambridgeSons of jailed Saudi scholars urge Cambridge to drop plans to train Riyadh staffExclusive: Families of men facing death penalty add to opposition to proposals to run courses for defence ministryRichard Adams and Wilf VallSun 17 May 2026 11.21 EDTFirst published on Sun 17 May 2026 11.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe families of two scholars facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia have…
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