Slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi's fiancée urges Justin Bieber to cancel Saudi Arabia show

Slain reporter Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee on Sunday asked United States-based pop singer Justin Bieber to t perform at Dec. 5 show in kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to a letter she wrote to singer obtained by Washington Post. Bieber is scheduled to perform at Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. But Khashoggi’s partner Hatice Cengiz is w asking world-famous star to cancel his performance to “send a powerful mess to world that your name and talent will t be used to restore reputation of a regime that kills its critics,” according to letter headlined “Please, Justin Bieber, Don’t Perform in Saudi Arabia” as cited by WaPo. 

Or performers at event will include rapper A$AP Rocky, DJs David Guetta and Tiesto, and singer Jason Derulo. But several media activists globally, including Turkish scholars and activists, have w penned an open letter to Canadian singer Justin Bieber asking him to withdraw from show. 

“Do t sing for murderers of my beloved Jamal,” Cengiz wrote in letter accessed by WaPo. “Please speak out and condemn his killer, Mohammed bin Salman. Your voice will be heard by millions.”

She continued, “If you refuse to be a pawn of MBS [crown prince’s initials] your mess will be loud and clear: I do t perform for dictators. I choose justice and freedom over money.”

MBS implicated for Khashoggi's murder in US intel report 

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was implicated in  Washington Post columnist and critic of kingdom’s regime Khashoggi’s 2018 murder in Istanbul by United States in a declassified four-p US intelligence report, compiled with intelligence from CIA and or spy ncies including Office of Director of National Intelligence.

“We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey, to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” report stated. 

US President Joe Biden called operation “outrous” as he condemned Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for murdering reporter inside Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Meanwhile, MBS denied involvement in murder but said that he accepts symbolic responsibility as country’s de facto ruler. But US argued that Khashoggi’s murder involved seven members of crown prince’s “elite personal protective detail,” and or “high confidence” members, who wouldn’t have been behind killing without crown prince’s approval.

“ Crown Prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to Kingdom and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him,” report stressed. 

Saudi has 'history of using celebrities' to deflect from pervasive abuses, says HRW 

“Saudi Arabia has a history of using celebrities and major international events to deflect scrutiny from its pervasive abuses,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement. It furr asked or participating singers to “speak out publicly on rights issues or, when reputation-laundering is primary purpose, t participate.” It alleged that Saudi government’s intent is to use se celebrities to whitewash its abysmal human rights record and deflect scrutiny from its pervasive human rights violations against peaceful dissidents and activists.

Despite documented abuses, and confirmed report of one of his most prominent critics Khashoggi’s brutal murder, Washington stopped short of targeting 35-year-old future Saudi king with state sanctions. 

Biden administration, instead, unveiled “Khashoggi policy” to impose visa sanctions on individuals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government, engd in “counter-dissident” activities, including harassment, surveillance, and threats against journalists, activists, and dissidents, according to US press reports. US treasury had issued sanctions against Ahmad Hassan Mohammed al Asiri, former deputy head of Saudi Arabia’s General Intelligence Presidency, stating that he was partisan in Khashoggi’s murder. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said kingdom’s government “categorically rejects what is stated in US report provided to Congress”.