Bieber to Sing for "Saudi Killers"?
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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.
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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.
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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.
