Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, 50 Cent, The Future and Tyga were added to the Jeddah World Fest program, the concert in Saudi Arabia that Nicki Minaj came out of due to human rights concerns.
The event’s website, to be held Thursday at the King Abdullah Sports Stadium, posted photos of the new acts side previously announced performers Liam Payne and Steve Aoki.
The Human Rights Foundation and other organizations have asked artists not to perform in Saudi Arabia, where segregation between men and women is applied in many restaurants, cafes, shops, public schools and universities. Other rules have undone in the realm with women now being allowed to drive and attend events at sports stadiums.
Representatives of Jackson, Brown, 50 Cent, Future and Tyga did not immediately respond to e-mails requesting comments.
Thor Halvorssen, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, criticized the artists in a statement Thursday to the Associated Press, saying it was “deeply distressing that they chose money over morality. “
He added: “These people constantly make public statements of support for LGBT rights and women’s rights, except, apparently, when a seven-figure verification is attached as an appendix. Hypocrisy is breathtaking. Main issues apparently much more than principles. “
Minaj said she came out of the concert hall because she wants to show support for women’s rights, gay rights and freedom of speech. Human rights organizations praised the rapper for his decision.
Saudi Arabia has seen profound changes, last year, Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is from top to bottom, reform efforts, including the opening of the first movie theater and the lifting of the only ban on women driving. But there is a limit to the reforms – as revealed by the brutal assassination of writer Jamal Khashoggi Arabia, the agents of proximity of the prince’s crown in October and the torture by the of several women’s rights activists in prison. While the arena for entertainment is enlargement, space for political engagement and dissent has virtually disappeared.
“It is clear that after the loss of Nicki Minaj on the basis of the Saudi regime is atrocious in terms of human rights and their treatment of women and the gay community, the Prince of the Crown has chosen to spend all that you have to give the impression that things are normal and that it’s just another music concert. Except it’s not, “Halvorssen of the statement read. “It’s a blatant PR, pushing on the heels of pre-meditated murder, the Washington Post, the columnist and the course of imprisoning dozens of human rights activists. Arabia has embarked on a sophisticated campaign of entertainment. “
Over the last few months, the kingdom has seen performances by Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, David Guetta and Tiesto. This is a stark change from when Arabia, the morality police would raid establishments that played loud music.