Dara Khosrowshahi, the Iranian born entrepreneur who became CEO of Uber in August 2017 succeeding founder Travis Kalanick, told the audience at the show that he believes the Saudi government made a mistake, which many see as being behind the heinous murder.
He said that while talking to “Axios on HBO” that — although it was a grave mistake on behalf of the Saudi government, we all make mistakes. He referred to his company’s mistake of self-driving and making a recovery from it and that humans make mistakes and that they should be forgiven for it. He believed the Saudi government had taken it seriously, and they regret it.
Saudi Arabia has a substantial investment in Uber and happens to be one of the largest investors in the company with the fifth-biggest shareholding in the company and the Chief of its sovereign wealth fund being a member of the board.
We all make mistakes —Uber CEO called Jamal Kashoggi’s murder a mistake by Goverment of Saudi Arabia
Media reached Uber for the comment on its CEO’s statement to which it’s representative replied that he regrets the language he used in the show and that the murder of the Saudi journalist was a reprehensible act, and it should not be excused.
It’s been almost a year since the Washington Post columnist, and a U.S resident was killed while visiting the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The journalist was a prominent critic of the royal family and the current administration in Saudi Arabia. There is a broader perception in the international community that the current crown prince of Saudi Arabia ordered the killing of Jamal Kashoggi.
Saudi administration’s killing of the journalist is seen by many as an act of silencing the critiques by the government. The ruling family has reiterated its denial of homicide. Still, evidence has mounted since his death that contradicts their claim and shows significant involvement of high-level Saudi officials with America’s top intelligence agency CIA stating that crown prince Muhammad Bin Salman ordered his murder.
In a recent interview, the Saudi crown prince said that he fully accepts the responsibility for the killing of the journalist but noted that murder was carried out by individuals working for the government but denied allegations that he was not involved in the killing.
You can watch the video here:
Featured image: Getty
