Uber chief tries to backpedal after calling Khashoggi murder 'a mistake'
- by Patty Hardy
- in Business
- — Nov 11, 2019
The CEO of ride-sharing giant Uber has compared the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to "mistakes" made with self-driving cars.
"We've made mistakes, too, right, with self-driving. and we're recovering from that mistake".
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called Saudi Arabia's murder of journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi "a mistake", though he later clarified that Saudi actions were "reprehensible and should not be forgotten or excused".
US and United Nations officials suspect that Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in Khashoggi's slaying, but the Kingdom denies it. "I think they've taken it seriously", he said.
And one of Uber's board members is Yasir Al Rumayyan, the managing director of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
The CIA, meanwhile, has determined Mohammed bin Salman personally ordered Khashoggi's killing.
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In the interview that aired on Sunday, Khosrowshahi said "it doesn't mean they can never be forgiven". He then compared Khashoggi's slaying to an accident in which one of Uber's autonomous vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian past year.
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Turkish prosecutors have said the Washington Post columnist, who had called for reform in the ultra-conservative kingdom, was suffocated by Saudi hitmen in a pre-meditated killing ahead of his body being dismembered and disposed of.
Khosrowshahi told Axios in the statement: "I said something in the moment that I do not believe".
Within hours-and before Axios published the comments-Khosrowshahi walked them back. "When it comes to Jamal Khashoggi, his murder was reprehensible and should not be forgotten or excused", said the statement posted on the news website on Monday.
Khosrowshahi did also not attend this year but said that decision was due a "board meeting at the same time". "Now we're a public company, anyone can invest in our company. they're a big investor, just as you could be a big investor as well".
Uber was one of many companies that chose to boycott Saudi Arabia's investment conference - also referred to as Davos in the Desert - a year ago in response to news about Khashoggi's disappearance and subsequent murder at the hands of Saudi agents.
Saudi Arabia has denied official involvement in Khashoggi's death, blaming "rogue operatives". "Our investors have long known my views here & I'm sorry I wasn't as clear on Axios".
Mr Khosrowshahi was brought in as CEO to turn around a company plagued with self-inflicted wounds.
