Saudi Arabia will become, Sunday, December 5, the 35th country to host an F1 Grand Prix. An event that revives the burning issue of respect for human rights in this country of the Arabian Peninsula.
Planetary star, Justin Bieber he thought he would attract the wrath of those who challenge and point the finger at the Saudi regime? The pop-star, 27, is due to sing, Sunday, December 5, in front of thousands of people in Jeddah on the sidelines of the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, alongside the famous French DJ David Guetta and the American singer Jason Derulo. A priori lucrative, the decision of the singer of the hit “Love Yourself” to participate in the concert, however, aroused the ire of human rights groups.
” Why is Bieber singing for Saudi assassins? “
Hatice Cengiz, the Saudi journalist’s fiancée Jamal Khashoggi assassinated in 2018 at the consulate of his country in Istanbul, took the head of the movement which calls on Justin Bieber to cancel his visit. “ This is a unique opportunity to send a strong message to the world that your name and talent will not be used to restore the image of a regime that is killing its opponents. », She wrote in a column published in the Washington post. On social media, the hashtag #WTFJustin was widely shared as a plane sported a ” Why is Bieber singing for Saudi assassins? Last month flew over Los Angeles at the American Music Awards. The Canadian singer has refrained from any comment.
While Saudi Arabia seeks to soften its image as an ultra-conservative kingdom, the arrests of opponents, the rejection of the LGBTQ + community and the large number of executions in the country are regularly singled out by international organizations.
In addition to the sporting issue, the first Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix, which could crown for the first time the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) on Sunday, is drawing attention for what it represents on the international scene. The kingdom’s entry into the F1 calendar, much criticized for its human rights violations, is part of a campaign to improve its image and diversify its economy (which is mainly based on oil) through sport, cultural events and tourism. Critics, who point to one of the highest execution rates in the world and the repression of dissidents, speak of sportwashing (attempt to whitewash the country’s image through sport).
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For the President of the Saudi Automobile Federation, Prince Khalid bin Sultan al-Faisal, “ it is not a singer who will (smooth) the image of the kingdom, but rather its leaders and its people. “He believes that a” fight has been fought against the kingdom for years, a fight for political reasons “. And to add: “ There are those who say the kingdom is lagging behind and against human rights … Of course, no one is perfect, and the greatest freedom and human rights-wielding nations have more than their fair share of criticism. these areas. We believe in ourselves, this war will continue, we will continue on our way and the door is open to everyone to visit us and see who we really are “.
Another who will have to speak on the question of human rights is, without doubt, the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). The pilot made the fight against discrimination his fight off the track. ” I think we are all aware that there are problems in certain countries where we go and especially in this part of the world (the Gulf, which hosts four GPs in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, editor’s note) ”, he already declared in Doha two weeks ago. Pilots must “ making sport more responsible and making sure it really does something when it goes to those countries, and that’s why I tried to raise my voice “, He added, before taking the track wearing a helmet in the colors of the LGBT + community.
Saudi Arabia, which is trying to shed its image of an ultra-conservative kingdom, launched a women’s football championship at the end of November comprising 16 teams. The world’s leading exporter of black gold, Saudi Arabia also intends to open up more and more to leisure tourism. The Saudi Arabian Tourist Board now has 22 offices around the world. ” This openness to leisure tourism embodies Saudi Arabia’s desire for transformation. Our mission is to manage to overcome the clichés and a priori over the country. We need to change perceptions. We understand that some things can be a hindrance », Explains the tourist echo website Rodolphe Bonnemie, director general of the Saudi Arabia Tourist Board.
(with AFP)