Inside the controversial Haddah event from the comedian Dave Chapil

“There were sexual jokes, and Trisk jokes. It is really unusual to see this type of comedy here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Thus, one was summarized by one of the shows that I watched, at the first comedy festival.

“The response was amazing, and I have not seen such enthusiasm,” she said, after American stars Dave Chapelle and Bill Port said.

Women – which we call Sarah – said that the comedians have avoided discussing a controversial human rights record in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. But this did not disturb her in particular.

“People here do not care about these topics,” she said. “If they do that, they will not live here.”

Outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there are very different views.

Famous comedians such as Jimmy Car, Jack White Hart, Kart, Rossil Peters and Umd Delly are greatly criticized by his fellow artists to agree to performance at the festival. Others say they rejected the invitations.

But some have argued that it is a more accurate picture. While human rights groups have a set of concerns about Saudi Arabia, the country has tried to convert its image in recent years.

With the festival in full swing, we were talking to fans and comedians to find out what is already happening on the ground – and how people’s reaction was.

The RIYADH comedy festival began at the end of last week, All -Star – and males mainly.

One of the first fans through the doors was Zain, not his real name. He attended the omid Djalili’s and Bill Burr groups with friends, and it is reserved to watch Jimmy Carr next week. He said that the groups included “obscene content”, with jokes for gay and transgender.

“The opening law of Bill Port included a ten -minute segment that was revolving around sex.”

Zain, who lives in Riyadh, said that he was shocked to hear jokes like this, in a country known to be a super social conservative and where Homosexuality is still illegal. The country imposes a death penalty for relations of the same sex, according to the Gay and Gay Association, and the sexual inclination and the heavy sexual identity.

Zain said: “I cannot believe that people were saying these things in Saudi Arabia.” “Not many people here have seen a situation in their lives, not to mention something very clear.”

But jokes received well. “In front of me, (there was a group of local Saudi women, and they were all laughing.”

The Chapelle collection was also controversial, according to Sarah, with a lot of jokes about converted people.

She said that it was “really unusual” hearing jokes like those in the state of the Gulf. “It is very forbidden,” she said, using the Arabic word for the ban.

Zain said that Darili mocked the elements of Saudi culture.

“I have been removed from the niqab, and women are driving. He also filmed plays on how people believed in Riyadh that they are the gift of God to the earth.”

He said that Bohr looked more tense than that, and holds the jokes tested about his wife and children.

The attendees said that the public was a wide mix of Saudi citizens and former writings, and there was a strong turnout.

Then there is what is not said.

The fans who talked to the shows said, “Fullly avoid” any mention of the government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Before the festival, Human Rights Watch The festival argued It was an attempt by the Saudi regime to “whiten” its violations.

The group warned the Saudi dissidents, journalists and human rights activists, who were unjustly detained.

Everyone urged his performance to use the opportunity to speak on topics such as human rights and freedom of expression.

“I have not yet seen one of the comedians raising these issues, not only on the stage but on social media or anywhere,” Joy Xia, Saudi Arabia’s researcher at Human Rights Watch, told BBC News. “It is very disappointing.”

The comedian Atsuko Oatsuka, who said she refused to invite, Common excerpts from a contract Which is claimed to have a ban on any substance that can “deteriorate or distort” the Saudi royal family or religion.

BBC News was unable to independently verify the presence of such a contract.

But British comedian Rosie Holt says it is extremely rare for comedians to receive content restrictions like those.

She told me: “I only heard it happening sometimes in vehicles in universities, such as not phobia or racist.” “But this is the exception, not the rule.”

The timing of the festival was also not lost on its critics.

Its dates, from September 26 to October, coincide with the seventh anniversary of her killing Journalist Jamal Khashogji. Khashji was killed during his visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey and his body.

The American Intelligence Report was found Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to his death. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rejected this report, and the Crown Prince, who is actually the ruler of the Kingdom, denied any role in killing.

“The same man who will pay (the comedians) is the same man who pushed this man to the Great Council Jamal Khashogi and put him in a (obscene) bag,” said Mark Maroun Al -Hazali.

Holt said that if the comedians would go to Riyadh and make jokes from the state, and “Nidaa Khashousi”, then “I will tell them clean play – but they will not.”

“There is this old saying, that comedy talks about the truth in power,” she said. “Many of these comedians have been huge defenders of freedom of expression, going and performing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where freedom of expression is severely reduced, it is extraordinary. It is morally hateful.”

Alex Fallon, a comedian and Tactocker from Los Angeles, acknowledged that freedom of expression was fire in the United States. But he said that the fact that the festival is supported by the government, which made it more comfortable.

“There is a difference in performance in Country and to country. “I will not do a festival if it is paid by” Trump is a great man. “

The General Entertainment Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which announced the festival, immediately did not respond to the comment. The Saudi embassy in London was contacted to comment.

Chapeli, Darily, Port, White Harb and Kar L for BBC News.

Some comedians were clear about what attracted them to Saudi money.

“They pay me enough money to look at the other direction,” said comedian Tim Delon in Podcast.

Delon, who says Launched From the festival after the appearance of podcasts, he also claimed that he had offered 375,000 dollars (278,000 pounds) for his group, and that some of his peers had offered millions.

Others also talked about the big drawings.

American star Shin Gillis said Its pods He rejected an “important” offer to perform in this event. “I took an initial position,” he said.

His comedic colleagues took a bleak look at their peers of the “sale”.

“No one goes to the comedy for Paycheque,” says Holt.

“The only people who are invited are already successful people,” Valon added. “This was not a difficult year for Kevin Hart.”

Comedians and musicians often perform private vehicles and companies.

“The difference” is that these events tend to not be revealed, or receive such propaganda, “says Natalie Jameson, entertainment journalist. Anger now happens because this happens publicly. “

It is not only the comedians who have taken large sums from the government from the Saudi government in recent years.

As a nation that relies heavily on oil, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to diversify itself economically, socially and culturally.

The plan for its vision 2023, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, includes the transfer of money into sectors such as tourism, entertainment and sports.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has won the rights to host many major international events, including the 2034 Men’s FIFA World Cup.

Last month, giant giant Electronic arts (EA) has been purchased By a consortium led by the General Investment Fund in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The box portfolio also includes Newcastle United and LIV GOLF concession.

“I am sure that there are a lot of people in the West do not agree, but people here are really excited about the transformation program,” Sarah said. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is trying to be a center for entertainment, and things like this comedy festival really help. There is a lot of enthusiasm here, especially among young Saudis.”

He talks about his podcast this week, Bill Power He defended his performance In the face of the reverse reaction.

He said, ” They want to see a real comedy. ”I think it will lead to a lot of positive things.”

Whether the festival really allows to broadcast various views of the discussion.

Zain admits not to move away from the fact that the comedians in Riyadh will not make jokes about the state or its leaders, as they do elsewhere.

“So you can criticize them for that,” he said. But such an event was helping to “open the eyes of the population.”

“Every Saudi who attends a show like this will learn something. You have gay jokes, transit jokes, sexual jokes, it’s really open to everything – regardless of the government.”