Nicki Minaj cancels her visit to a Saudi festival

American rapper Nicki Minaj has finally announced that she will not be traveling to Saudi Arabia, thus canceling her participation in the Jeddah festival. In addition to astonishing, the announcement of her presence at the event had provoked strong reactions from human rights defenders, in particular in view of the still worrying situation of the place of women in the Saudi kingdom. . “After careful consideration, I have decided not to go to Jeddah World Fest as planned,” the woman said in a statement..

Nicki Minaj finally decided not to travel to Saudi Arabia

Although Saudi Arabia has been working to relax its policies and restrictions on manners and entertainment, since the arrival as Deputy Prime Minister of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s record in terms of respect for rights remains highly criticized. An image that has deteriorated further recently with the murder last October of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an opponent of the Riyadh regime, at the heart of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The authorities were also illustrated in terms of repression, with the prosecution last March of ten activist bloggers accused of “cybercrime” and thus joining dozens of other human rights activists already in prison.

“After careful consideration, I decided not to go to Jeddah World Fest as planned” Nicki Minaj

Having sparked controversy by accepting the invitation to the Saudi festival, Nicki Minaj therefore finally reconsidered her decision, after the advice and warning of those around her. The American Foundation Human Rights Foundation was also able to influence the decision after sending an open letter to the rapper, asking her to “refuse the money from the regime” by canceling her concert scheduled for July 18. A call to use his influence to campaign for the release of the detained activists was also addressed to him..

Nicki Minaj also sought the advice of her fans on the matter.

While openly feminist activist and defender of LGBT rights, the news of her concert was therefore qualified as hypocritical, in view of the very hostile policy of Saudi Arabia towards the gay community, homosexuality being of elsewhere quite simply prohibited in the country. In order to put an end to any controversy concerning her, the interpreter of “Anaconda” has therefore formalized his withdrawal from the Jeddah festival: “Although my only wish is to present my concert to my Saudi fans (but) after more informed on all these issues, I think it is essential for me to clearly express my support for women’s rights, the LGBTQ community and freedom of expression ”.

Despite the apparent openness of Crown Prince MBS, respect for human rights within the Saudi kingdom remains a major concern