The comedic actors called for a performance at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s comedy festival for the “white” country system

Some of the largest comedians in the world in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have gathered for the RIYADH festival – but not everyone laughing.

The participation of great names in the world of comedy, including Dave Chapheel, Louis CK. Record human rights violations.

RIYADH Comedy Festival, which was developed by the country’s general entertainment, The bills themselves As the “largest comic festival in the world”, it hosts more than 50 “legends” from Standop from September 26 to October 9.

“From the people who brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert – don’t miss it!” Comedian Mark Maroun, on the festival, joined the Standoupe’s place. It was published on it InstagramNoting that he was not asked to participate.

In a satirical video on social media, the comedian and actor Zach Woods contacted those who took a position against the festival “Killjoys and Dweibazoids.”

“One comedy name did not raise himself to a dictator,” Woods joking.

Caricature Shin Gillisand Mike Perbellia and Stavros Halkias They also said that they rejected the performances for performance in Riyadh.

Comedians “should not be silent”: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch invited the participating comedians to use appearances as a forum to claim free activists and journalists from the government who were detained for criticizing the regime. Otherwise, the organization said that the comic stories will help “wash the reputation of the Saudi government.”

“The seventh anniversary of the anniversary of the killing of Jamal Khashogji is not a laughing issue, and the comedians who receive huge sums from the Saudi authorities should not be silent on banned topics in Saudi Arabia such as human rights or freedom of expression.” statement.

Khashoggi, a journalist who was criticizing the country’s government, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Türkiye in 2018. According to the information that was raised in the year 2021, American intelligence agencies concluded His death has been approved by the country’s crown prince and ruled by reality, Muhammad bin Salman.

While Xia says that some social standards have been eased in recent years under the leadership of the Crown Prince, I noticed that the rule of bin Salman had led to “one of the worst human rights periods in the modern history of the country.”

She said to CBC News in an interview, which citizens are not allowed to protest routinely with prison or death time, as she told CBC News in an interview, and citizens are not allowed to protest.

Human Rights Watch has documented an increase in deaths this year – At least 241 starting from August 5 -Another journalist, Turki Al-Jasser, who was previously running a Twitter account where he made a jokes about corruption in the Saudi royal family. The generation was Put up By the regime in June on “High Bysting”.

Pay to “look at the other direction”

At least one comedy said he agreed to perform at the Hard Cold Film Festival.

“They pay me enough to look at the other direction.” Tim Delon said During the August 30 episode of the podcast, in which he discussed a violent reaction to his participation.

“Do I have problems with some policies towards women, towards gay … towards freedom of expression? Well, of course I do,” Delon said. “But I believe in my financial luxury.”

Delon claimed that 375,000 USD will be paid for his performance, and that other artists will achieve up to $ 1.6 million.

But this was before Delon revealed He was packed from the festival squad for his comments on the use of Saudi Arabia’s forced work.

He said during the September 20 episode of the podcast: “I addressed it in a funny way and shot me.”

Delon said he would have respected the country’s bases at the festival, but he did not appreciate attempts to control his speech outside the party on his podcast.

Content rules

According to Atsuko okatsuka comedy, there are specific rules about what the materials allow materials in RIYADH to job him.

Ukinesuka said On social media She rejected a performance show, and she shared a screenshot of a written display, which said the detailed “rules of control”.

It included a section bearing the “content restrictions” mark that prevents artists from jokes that “decompose, distort, or prepare to publicly, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule” the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi royal family, or any religious personalities and practices.

“A lot of” you can’t say anything anymore! “Oatsuka, referring to some of the participating comedians who publicly insisted that they should be able to say what they want in the context of the joke.

It is not clear whether any of the comedy that leads to the pioneering of similar requirements in its contracts has. CBC News contacted representatives of a number of comedians regarding the reasons for performance in the festival and whether they agreed not to contact some topics as a performance condition, but time has not been answered to publish.

The representatives of the Saudi Entertainment Authority also did not respond to a request for comment.

The festival is an effective “whitening strategy”

The public entertainment body in the country He said in a statement The festival aims to “amplify Riyadh’s position as a leading destination for major cultural and artistic events.”

The strengthening of the entertainment industry inside the country was a large part of bin Salman Vision 2030 The project – an economic plan to diversify the country away from its deep roots in the oil industry.

Entertainment options inside the country have turned significantly in recent years under the plan.

While the musical events were banned, concerts began to appear – Including holesAnd offers likes Jennifer Lopez and Justin Bieber. Cinemasand Film festivals and Sporting events I found a place in Saudi Arabia, a country for a decade, there was not much entertainment industry at all.

But Xia from Human Rights Watch says that these prominent events are less than economic change and more about distracting the attention of international observers. Chia says that the country is known as the observers, as Chia says, people will be open as an open country for progress and opportunity, or a partner in global events such as the 2034 World Cup, which is scheduled to hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It says that attempts to distract the government have proven effective so far. When Khashogogi was killed in 2018, Saudi Arabia became an “international outcast”, isolated on the world stage, noting that the execution of the June generation barely attracted the attention of the international community.

“It is just one small example of how, over a longer period of time with enough events, with enough prominent investments, this egg strategy is incredibly effective.”