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DJ Tiësto is scheduled to perform at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the Dutch artist is under increasing pressure to cancel this concert. Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée, who was killed by a Saudi assassination squad, calls on Tiësto and his colleagues to send a “powerful message.”
Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian journalist and columnist for The Wasington Post, but was killed in Turkey in 2018 by a Saudi assassination squad for criticizing the Saudi government. His fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, is therefore now calling for a boycott of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. DJ Tiësto, Justin Bieber and Jason Derulo, among others, were expected to perform during the race weekend, but Cengiz hopes they send a “powerful message” by canceling their performances in the country that is “killing its critics”.
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In an open letter published by The Washington Post, urged Cengiz to cancel the December 5 gig in Jeddah to “send a strong message to the world that your name and talent will not be used to damage the reputation of a regime that is killing its critics.” It is doubtful whether the Dutch Tiësto and the Canadian Bieber will heed the call. After all, it is not the first time that a pop star has been pressured to cancel a concert in Saudi Arabia and it had no effect at the time.
Mariah Carey was the biggest artist to take the stage in the country after Khashoggi’s murder. She was also pressured to cancel her concert, but without success. Nicki Minaj did respond to the call in 2019, where she at the time The Associated Press said she wanted to show support for women’s rights, gay rights and freedom of expression.
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