Mariah Carey urged to highlight plight of detained activists during Saudi concert

Alia Al-Hathloul, the sister of detained Saudi activist Lujain, has appealed to American singer Mariah Carey to remember her sister’s role in advancing human rights in the kingdom during her upcoming concert.

Carey will perform at the King Abdullah Economic City on 31 January during a golf tournament.

Alia said on Twitter that she wished her sister could attend the ceremony but she is behind bars because she tried to improve women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Alia, who lives in Belgium, urged Carey to thank her sister, Lujain during the concert for what she saw as “her sister’s efforts which resulted in opening the kingdom to singing and music”.

READ: Amnesty reveals new testimonies of Saudi activists’ torture 

She asked whether US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who will visit the kingdom, will discuss her sister’s case with Saudi officials.

Alia has previously said that her sister has been subjected to torture, solitary confinement, beating, stabbing, harassment and threats of rape and murder.

Loujain was among a number of female activists who were arrested in May 2018, just weeks before the Saudi authorities lifted the ban on women driving. Prominent women’s rights activists are jailed after being accused of grave crimes including treason. Rights groups say their imprisonment appears to be directly related to their activism.