Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has said in an interview with Axios that the murder of the journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi Arabia was a “serious mistake,” before comparing the incident to the death caused by Uber’s self-driving car and adding that “people make mistakes, it doesn’t mean that they can never be forgiven.”

Khosrowshahi later backtracked, telling Axios after the interview had ended that he had misspoken. “I said something in the moment that I do not believe,” said the CEO in a statement. “When it comes to Jamal Khashoggi, his murder was reprehensible and should not be forgotten or excused.”

Khosrowshahi was being questioned over his company’s continuing relationship with the government of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is the fifth-largest shareholder in Uber, and the head of the wealth fund, Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, is a member of Uber’s board. In the interview, Khosrowshahi praised Al-Rumayyan as a “very constructive board member” and said he valued his input “greatly.”

Following the death of Khashoggi in 2018, Uber pulled out of Saudi Arabia’s annual investment conference.

Khosrowshahi did not attend this year’s Saudi investment conference either but this was due to a scheduling conflict, not any ethical stance.

SOURCE : ALBILAD