edition
Ar Es
Al Mayadeen English
  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Arts and Culture
  4. Bieber to Sing for "Saudi Killers"?
Arts and Culture

Bieber to Sing for "Saudi Killers"?

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Dec 2021 14:13
  • 3 Shares

Slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's fiance joined a chorus of voices imploring Justin Bieber not to perform at the Kingdom's Formula One race this week.

  • Bieber is Scheduled to Sing for
    Justin Bieber is being pressured to cancel his performance in Saudi Arabia. 

Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has found himself in the middle of an ideological row between Saudi Arabia and rights activists.

The singer had decided to perform at this week's inaugural ceremony of the Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix. However, campaigners are urging him to cancel to protest Riyadh's human rights record.

Bieber is scheduled to perform at Sunday's post-race show in Jeddah, which will also feature French DJ David Guetta and American singer Jason Derulo.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Human Rights Foundation (HRF) (@hrf)

The concert was criticized following similar reactions to other high-profile events in Saudi Arabia that attempt to whitewash its image.

Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose 2018 murder inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul sparked international outrage, called on Bieber to cancel his performance. 

"This is a unique opportunity to send a powerful message to the world that your name and talent will not be used to restore the reputation of a regime that kills its critics," Cengiz told Bieber in a Washington Post op-ed.

The campaign has gained attention, with the hashtag #WTFJustin on Twitter and a banner plane reading "Why is Bieber singing for Saudi killers?" flying above last month's American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

'Saudi can't erase history'

The Saudis "can't erase history" as regards the murder, said James Dorsey, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute.

He expects Saudi Arabia to continue to use its tremendous oil wealth to attract sports and celebrities.

"The indication is that they're basically going to offer enough money to make these things offers you can't refuse," Dorsey explained.

  • Justin Bieber
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Jamal Khashoggi
  • Formula 1
  • Hatice Cengiz

Trending Now

All
Arts and culture normalization with Israel

"Israel's" dangerous weapon: Normalization through arts and culture

Most Read

US unprepared for potential war with China: Study

US unprepared for potential war with China: Study

  • US & Canada
  • 23 Jan
Is this Western war on Russia simply stupidity?

Is this Western war on Russia simply stupidity?

  • Opinion
  • 22 Jan
Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco on Nov. 4, 2022 (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

FBI created dashboard to mislabel Twitter users as Russian bots

  • US & Canada
  • 27 Jan
The Russian-manufactured Marker 2 tank-striker (Military Review)

Russia reveals Marker 2 combat robots

  • Europe
  • 26 Jan

Read this

All
Dozens of thousands rally against Netanyahu in "Tel Aviv" for the fourth consecutive week
Palestine

Tens of thousands rally against Netanyahu in "Tel Aviv": Israeli Media

  • 28 Jan
Kiev aims securing  missiles to strike Crimea: Zelensky's advisor
Politics

Kiev eyes securing missiles to strike Crimea: Zelensky's advisor

  • 28 Jan
A man on a bicycle passes the headquarters of Germany's biggest arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Europe

Rheinmetall capitalizes on Western insecurities

  • 28 Jan
14 Killed, 24 wounded after Kiev shelled hospital in Lugansk: Russia
Europe

14 Killed, 24 wounded after Kiev shelled hospital in Lugansk: Russia

  • 28 Jan
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS