Human Rights Watch urges artists to speak out about abuses in Saudi Arabia

Human Rights Watch said that music stars who will perform at the upcoming “Middle Beast Soundstorm” festival in Saudi Arabia should either speak up about human rights or not participate.
The organization considered in a report, that “those who will present their performances at the Saudi government-sponsored event, as well as the influencers who promote it, must also distance themselves from the country’s attempts to polish its appalling human rights record.”
It pointed out that “while the Saudi Public Investment Fund, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is doubling these efforts to organize bigger and better events in the country, the government has intensified its suppression of the peaceful opposition,” noting that “dozens of Saudi activists and human rights defenders are still unjustly imprisoned, and some of them have been subjected to abuse.” horrific torture.”
The organization considered that “the recent social reforms, despite their importance, do not amount to Saudi Arabia’s compliance with international human rights standards or offer only superficial freedoms,” stressing that “artists and promoters at the MDL Beast Soundstorm Festival should use microphones, theaters, and interviews to speak publicly about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia or refuse to participate.”