Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Comedy Festival: Big Names, Big Questions
Saudi Arabia, the largest human rights criticizer, is hosting the Riyadh Comedy Festival, with big names like Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, and Dave Chappelle set to perform. The kingdom is billing it as the 'biggest comedy festival in the world'.
This event is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a plan to shift the country's identity away from religious clerics and towards national identity and entertainment. The festival is driven more by domestic factors than international image concerns.
However, the kingdom's human rights record has drawn criticism. In 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and allegedly dismembered in Turkey. U.S. intelligence reports claim Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the operation. Despite investments in culture and entertainment, like this comedy festival, bin Salman's image has not been fully rehabilitated regarding this issue.
Some comedians have faced backlash for participating in the festival. A few have declined or stepped down due to human rights concerns. While the transformation towards modernization is ongoing, it has not been accompanied by addressing all human rights issues or expanding freedom of speech.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival, with its international lineup, signals Saudi Arabia's push for entertainment and modernization. However, it also highlights the kingdom's complex human rights landscape and the ongoing debate surrounding its image.
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