Kellie Asante | November 10, 2021
Justin Bieber is set to perform at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix amidst pressure to cancel his appearance, December 5. CEO, Garry Kasparov and Chairman, Thor Halvorssen, of non-profit, The Human Rights Foundation, penned a letter, dated November 2, calling for Bieber to cancel his planned show at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix “as a symbol of solidarity with the ongoing suffering of the Saudi people”.
The Formula One Event is approved and financed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The family has a documented history of alleged Human Rights violations. The Royal family has been alleged to have played a roll in the assassination of Saudi Arabian, Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The letter also criticizes the government’s treatment of dissenters, the jailing and torture of women’s rights activists and its executions of LGBTQ+ people.
“We are writing to urgently inform you of the human rights crisis in Saudi Arabia; to explain the role that the regime of MBS [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] has played in violating the rights of tens of millions of Saudis; to ask that you consider the unfortunate implications of your engagement with the brutal dictatorship of MBS; and to respectfully request that, in light of your status as a global personality, you take this opportunity to positively influence human rights policy in Saudi Arabia by canceling your appearance, as a symbol of solidarity with the ongoing suffering of the Saudi people,” says Kasparov and Halvorssen.
Representatives at Bieber’s management company, owned by Scooter Braun and his Canadian record label Universal Music Canada have yet to comment or respond to HMF comments or request. The Lineup also includes Tiesto, A$AP Rocky, Jason Derulo and David Guetta.
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