Mariah Carey Ignores Pleas Of Activists To Call Off Concert In Saudi Arabia

Mariah Carey has come under fire after agreeing to perform in Saudi Arabia despite the pleas of Saudi women and human rights activists.

The concert comes among many new ideas by the Saudi government to try and revamp the image of the conservative nation. Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, was accused of ordering the murder of Saudi Arabian Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, a critic of the Prince, was murdered at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, by agents of the Saudi government.

Since the assassination, Saudi Arabia has been home to events with the biggest names in sports and musical entertainment. Car races, concerts and sporting events seem to be the new normal for the Saudi people. And with Carey’s performance, Saudi Arabia prepares to host their first female performer ever. But, many Saudi people say the events are just a way for the Saudi government to draw attention away from real issues.

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“Ms.Saffaa,” female Saudi artist called for support to stop the concert.

Alia al-Hathloul, sister of imprisoned women’s rights activist Loujain Hathlou, called on Mariah Carey to remember her sister and all she has done for women.

Responses to Alia al-Hathloul illuminated the cultural disconnect between rights activists and supporters of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

However, Carey still will not budge and plans to perform Thursday at King Abdullah Economic City, a two-hour drive north of Mecca. In a statement, Carey’s publicists said “Presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed-gender audience in Saudi Arabia, Mariah accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation.”