Nicki Minaj Urged To Cancel Performance In Saudi Arabia

Nicki Minaj‘s decision to perform at the Jeddah World Fest in Saudi Arabia this month has been met with controversy.

Friday, the Human Rights Foundation publicly called for the Head Barb to halt her performance due to the regime’s violation of the rights of “tens of millions of Saudis.”

Today, @HRF is calling on @NICKIMINAJ to cancel her performance scheduled for July 18 at Jeddah World Fest, a state-sponsored music festival funded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Read our full statement here, including our letter to Minaj. https://t.co/QjjC1WVvCT

— HRF (@HRF) July 5, 2019

“Ms. Minaj, as you can see, you are scheduled to perform at a state-sponsored event in one of the most repressive regimes on earth—a country whose leader has also led a relentless campaign to silence women’s rights activists,” HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen said in a letter addressed to Minaj.

He continued, “Many of the women who have advocated to lift the driving ban in Saudi Arabia are currently in jail and being subjected to torture that includes electric shocks, flogging, and rape.”

Halvorssen also pointed out the fact that Minaj recently expressed public support for the LGBTQ community, however, her performance at the festival directly conflicts with her allegiance to that cause.

“Just three months ago five gay men were beheaded after they confessed to crimes under torture,” the letter states. “If you move forward with this performance for a festival sponsored by the Crown Prince, you will be in league with the people who respond to freedom of expression and thought with murder.”

While Minaj has yet to comment on the matter, this would not be the first controversy of its kind. Back in 2015, the Queen rapper was criticized by HRF and social justice organizations for agreeing to a performance for former president José Eduardo dos Santos and family in Angola.

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