Comedians performing at Saudi Arabia comedy festival called out for ‘whitewashing’ country’s regime

Some of the largest comedians in the world gathered in Saudi Arabia for the comedy festival in Er -iad, but not everyone laughs.

The participation of high -profile names in the comedy world, including Dave Chappel, Louis K.K., Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart and Russell Peters, attracted attention from other comics and human rights groups, taking into account the host of the country Record about human rights violationsField

The festival of the comedy festival in Er -iad, built by the general administration of the country's entertainment, Accounts for yourself As the “world's largest comedic festival”, “leading more than 50“ legends ”from September 26 to October 9.

“From the people who brought you on September 11, two weeks of laughter in the desert – do not miss it!” Comedian Mark Maron joked about the festival in InstagramNoting that he was not asked to take part.

In a satirical video on social networks, the comedian and actor Zack Woods named those who opposed the festival “Drops, Killjoys and Dweiebazoids”.

“What is one comedian who is not forced to dictator.” Woods jokedField

Comics Shane GillisIN Mike Birbilla And Stavros Chalkias They also said that they refused to speak in Er -Riyad.

Comedics “should not be silent”: Human Raits Vatch

Human Raits Vosch called on the participating comedians to use appearance as a forum to demand free activists and government journalists who were detained for criticism of the regime. Otherwise, the organization said that the comics would help to “wash the reputation of the Saudi Arabia government.”

“The seventh anniversary of the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi is not laughter, and comedians who receive huge amounts from the Saudi Arabia authorities. statementField

Khashoggi, a journalist who criticized the government of the country, was killed at the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Turkey in 2018. According to information dispersion in 2021, American intelligence agencies completed that his death was approved by the hereditary prince and the actual ruler of the country Mohammed Bin Salman.

While Shi says that in recent years the “icy prince” says that some social norms have been weakened, she noted that Bin Salman's rule led to “one of the worst periods for human rights in the modern history of the country”.

Dissent is usually punished in imprisonment or death, she said CBC News in an interview, and citizens are not allowed to protest.

This year, Human Rights Watch documented the surge of executions – at least 241 as of August 5 -including another journalist, the Turks Al-Jasser, who previously managed the account on Twitter, where he joked about corruption in the royal family of Saudi Arabia. Al-Jasser was Put on death According to the regime in June for “high treason.”

Pay for “look in the other direction”

At least one comedian said that he agreed to speak at the festival for cold, hard money.

“They pay me enough to look in the other direction”, comedian Tim Dillon said During the episode on August 30, his podcast, in which he discussed a negative reaction to his participation.

“Do I have problems with some politicians regarding women, to gays … to freedom of speech? Well, of course, I'm doing it, ”said Dillon. “But I believe in my financial well -being.”

Dillon claimed that he would be paid 375,000 US dollars for his work, and that other performers will earn up to $ 1.6 million.

But it was before Dillon showed He was torn from the festival line for his comments on the use of Saudi Arabia forced labor.

“I turned to this ridiculous, and they fired me,” he said during the episode on September 20 of his podcast.

Dillon said that he would respect the country's rules at the festival, but did not appreciate attempts to control his speech outside the concert on his own podcast.

Rules for the content

According to comedian Atsuko Okatsuk, there are specific rules regarding which material executors in ER -ryad can joke.

Okatsuka said on social networks That she refused to speak for a speech and shared a screenshot of a written sentence, which, according to her, is details “The Rules of Censorship”.

It included a section marked with “restrictions on the content”, in which they perform jokes that “decompose, premieres or introduce public debauchery, contempt, scandal, embarrassment or ridicule” the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal family of Saudi Arabia or any religious figures and practices.

“Much of“ You can’t say anything else! ” “Comedians hold a festival,” said Okatsuka, referring to some of the participating comedians who publicly insisted that they could say everything they want in the context of the jokes.

It is unclear whether any of the comics who act in Er -ryad had similar requirements in their contracts. CBC News turned to representatives for a number of comedians for reasons for performing at the festival and whether they agreed not to affect certain topics as a condition of the performance, but not one answered the publication on time.

Representatives of the Saudi entertainment management also did not respond to a request for comments.

Festival Effective “White Strategy”

General Entertainment Management of the country He said in a statement That the festival is intended for “strengthening the status of Er -iad as a leading direction for large cultural and artistic events.”

Reinforcement of the entertainment industry in the country was a large part of Bin Salman Vision 2030 The project is an economic plan for the diversification of the country from its deep roots in the oil industry.

In recent years, entertainment options in the country have sharply transformed in the plan.

While musical events were prohibited, concerts began to appear – Includedand performances such as Jennifer Lopez And Justin BieberField CinemasIN Film Fest And Sports events They found a place in Saudi Arabia, a country where only ten years ago, there were not many entertainments in the industry.

But Shi from Human Raits Vatch says that these high -profile events are not related to economic changes, but more about the distraction of international observers. According to Shi, instead of considering the country as the one that kills the dissidents, people will see it as a country open to progress and opportunities, or a partner at world events, such as the 2034 World Cup, which Saudi Arabia is going to accept.

She says that attempts to distract the government have still been effective. According to her, when Khashoggi was killed in 2018, Saudi Arabia became an “international parlia”, isolated on the world arena, noting that the June execution of al-Jasser barely attracted the attention of the international community.

“This is just one small example of how, for a longer period of time with a sufficient number of these events, with a sufficient number of these high -performance investments, this strategy has turned incredibly effective.”