"It’s now time for me to move on with my life," Williams said on "The View."</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Mariah Carey, one of the world’s most celebrated artists, is performing in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for the first time, but there’s a growing chorus of Saudi women calling on her to cancel the concert to show support for detained women’s rights activists.

Carey is the highest-profile star to perform in the kingdom since it began loosening decades of restrictions on entertainment, music and fun as part of a push by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to overhaul the economy and transform society.

But activists say her concert is an attempt by the government to polish its image after the Oct. 2 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

It’s a dilemma that other celebrities could face as they ink multimillion dollar deals to perform in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority has promised a roster of major performances and sports exhibitions by the world’s biggest names.

Carey’s publicists told The Associated Press in a statement that when “presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed gender audience in Saudi Arabia, Mariah accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation.”

“As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognizes the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all,” the statement said, adding that Carey looks forward to bringing inspiration and encouragement to all audiences.

In December, the kingdom hosted a Formula-E car race in Riyadh, where thousands of young Saudis and hundreds of international visitors partied into the night at concerts by Enrique Iglesias, The Black Eyed Peas and DJ David Guetta.

Omaima Al-Najjar, a Saudi woman who fled the kingdom to seek political refuge abroad, said the concerts are a diversion from the Saudi-led war in Yemen against the neighboring country’s Houthi rebels, human rights abuses committed under the crown prince and repressive male guardianship laws that restrict women’s freedoms.

“The Saudi government is using entertainment to distract the people from human rights abuses because it can sense the anger among the public,” she said.

Al-Najjar is a co-founder of Women for Rights in Saudi Arabia, or WARSA, which launched a petition calling on Carey to boycott the country. The petition aimed to publicly pressure Carey because “she has power to stand for women … as an artist and as a female,” Al-Najjar said.

Activists are tweeting at Carey directly, urging her to take notice of the prominent Saudi women’s rights activists imprisoned since May who had long campaigned for social changes and women’s empowerment. The women, who include activists in their 20s as well as mothers, grandmothers and retired professors, have been accused of vague national security violations in connection to their human rights work.

Al-Najjar said artists like Carey should make their performances in Saudi Arabia conditional on the release of the women’s rights activists. A boycott would not impact ordinary Saudis because many cannot afford the concert’s ticket prices anyway, she said.

Tickets for Carey’s concert start at around $80, and VIP seats — already sold out — cost $530. The average monthly wage for Saudis is around $2,600, according to the General Authority for Statistics.

Alia al-Hathloul called on Mariah Carey to remember her sister, Loujain al-Hathloul, who she says has been abused and threatened with death while in detention because of her activism, which included defying the kingdom’s ban on women driving before it was lifted last year.

“Remember, thanks to my sister @LoujainHathloul, you r able to perform in Saudi Arabia. I wish she can attend your concert. But she’s locked behind bars because she tried to improve women’s condition. Don’ forget to thank her on stage,” she wrote to Carey on Twitter.

Saudi female artist Ms Saffaa wrote on Twitter: “Will @MariahCarey be singing ‘It’s a long road when u face the world alone. No one reaches out a hand 4 u 2 hold’ to imprisoned female #Saudi activists @LoujainHathloul, @Saudiwoman, & @azizayousef?”

Both women, as well as Al-Najjar, made their pleas from abroad, where they do not face the prospect of arrest for speaking out.

Carey is to perform at King Abdullah Economic City, a two-hour drive north of Islam’s holiest site of Mecca. The Economic City, built as a sort-of enclave for foreigners and Saudis, is gated and can only be entered with permission from security.

The concert, which includes DJ Tiesto, has also drawn the ire of some ultraconservatives on Twitter, angered that it is taking place in the greater region of Mecca.

The General Entertainment Authority’s online flyer for Carey’s concert shows her only from the waist up, with a red scarf draped over her arms. Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear loose, long black robes known as abayas in public. Most Saudi women also cover their hair and face.

Still, a concert like this would have been unthinkable until recently. Religious police used to enforce strict gender segregation, scolded women for not covering their hair and barged into restaurants to demand music be turned off.

The changes have a powerful backer in the crown prince, who is seeking to boost domestic spending and draw attention to his reforms.

Efforts to brand him a reformer took a hit after Saudi agents close to the crown prince killed and dismembered Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was critical of the prince’s crackdown on dissent. The U.S. Senate and U.S. intelligence have blamed the crown prince for the killing, but Saudi Arabia insists he had no involvement.

Thursday night’s concert is taking place at the Saudi International golf tournament. The European Tour has drawn several of golf’s biggest stars, including four of the top five players in the world.

The purse is $3.5 million, though the primary income for these players is appearance money, likely to be in the $1 million range for the biggest names.

The golfing champions signed up to play for the European Tour event last April, well before Saudi agents killed Khashoggi. Even so, at least one big-name player pulled back. UNICEF ambassador Paul Casey has also said he’d “sit this one out.”</s>Mariah Carey may want to follow her own advice and proceed with caution when it comes to performing in oppressive regimes, activists advise.

The iconic songbird will perform in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for the first time, outraging women's rights activists who want her to pull out in support of detained women in the country.

The Associated Press reports that Carey, 48, is the biggest start to perform in Saudi Arabia since the notoriously conservative country loosened their strict entertainment restrictions, but activists claim Carey's show is an effort from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to improve the kingdom's reputation after the Oct. 2 murder of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

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Reps for the singer told The Associated Press in a statement that when the "Hero" singer was "presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed gender audience in Saudi Arabia, Mariah accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation."

"As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognizes the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all," the statement continued.

In December, Saudi Arabia hosted a Formula-E car race in Riyadh that featured concerts by Enrique Iglesias, The Black Eyed Peas and DJ David Guetta.

MARIAH CAREY EXPLAINS ICONIC 'I DON'T KNOW HER' SHADE AGAINST J.LO

Omaima Al-Najjar, a Saudi woman who fled the kingdom to seek political refuge abroad, said that the concerts are a diversion from the Saudi-led war in Yemen against the neighboring country's Houthi rebels, human rights abuses committed under the crown prince and repressive male guardianship laws that restrict women's freedoms.

"The Saudi government is using entertainment to distract the people from human rights abuses because it can sense the anger among the public," she said.

MARIAH CAREY DISMISSES 10-YEAR CHALLENGE: 'TIME IS NOT SOMETHING I ACKNOWLEDGE'

Al-Najjar is a co-founder of Women for Rights in Saudi Arabia, or WARSA, which launched a petition calling on Carey to boycott the country. The petition aimed to publicly pressure Carey because "she has power to stand for women ... as an artist and as a female," Al-Najjar said.

Activists are tweeting at Carey directly, urging her to take notice of the prominent Saudi women's rights activists imprisoned since May who had long campaigned for social changes and women's empowerment. The women, who include activists in their 20s as well as mothers, grandmothers and retired professors, have been accused of vague national security violations in connection to their human rights work.

MARIAH CAREY'S EX-ASSISTANT SUES FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGEDLY ENDURED BY SINGER'S FORMER MANAGER

Al-Najjar said artists like Carey should make their performances in Saudi Arabia conditional on the release of the women's rights activists. A boycott would not impact ordinary Saudis because many cannot afford the concert's ticket prices anyway, she said.

Tickets for Carey's concert start at around $80, and VIP seats — already sold out — cost $530. The average monthly wage for Saudis is around $2,600, according to the General Authority for Statistics.

SAUDI PROSECUTOR SEEKS DEATH PENALTY FOR FIVE CHARGED IN KHASHOGGI MURDER

Alia al-Hathloul called on Mariah Carey to remember her sister, Loujain al-Hathloul, who she says has been abused and threatened with death while in detention because of her activism, which included defying the kingdom's ban on women driving before it was lifted last year.

"Remember, thanks to my sister @LoujainHathloul, you r able to perform in Saudi Arabia. I wish she can attend your concert. But she's locked behind bars because she tried to improve women's condition. Don' forget to thank her on stage," she wrote to Carey on Twitter.

Saudi female artist Ms Saffaa wrote on Twitter: "Will @MariahCarey be singing 'It's a long road when u face the world alone. No one reaches out a hand 4 u 2 hold' to imprisoned female #Saudi activists @LoujainHathloul, @Saudiwoman, & @azizayousef?"

Both women, as well as Al-Najjar and others, made their pleas from abroad, where they do not face the prospect of arrest for speaking out.

Carey and DJ Tiesto will perform in the gated King Abdullah Economic City, a two-hour drive north of Islam holy site Mecca, which can only be entered with permission from security. Despite the two-hour commute to the city from Mecca, some on Twitter expressed ire at its proximity to the region.

However, others defended Carey, pointing out that many Saudi Arabian fans had never gotten the opportunity to see her or any other artist of her caliber perform before:

The General Entertainment Authority's online flyer for Carey's concert shows her only from the waist up, with a red scarf draped over her arms. Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear loose, long black robes known as abayas in public. Most Saudi women also cover their hair and face.

Still, a concert like this would have been unthinkable until recently. Religious police used to enforce strict gender segregation, scolded women for not covering their hair and barged into restaurants to demand music be turned off.

The changes have a powerful backer in the crown prince, who is seeking to boost domestic spending and draw attention to his reforms.

JAMAL KHASHOGGI, MISSING ACTIVIST AND WRITER, KILLED AND DISMEMBERED IN SAUDI CONSULATE

Efforts to brand him a reformer took a hit after Saudi agents close to the crown prince killed and dismembered Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was critical of the prince's crackdown on dissent. The U.S. Senate and U.S. intelligence have blamed the crown prince for the killing, but Saudi Arabia insists he had no involvement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>Mariah Carey performs in Saudi Arabia despite calls for boycott over human rights concerns

Mariah Carey performs in Saudi Arabia despite calls for boycott over human rights concerns

Mariah Carey faced criticism over her decision to perform in Saudi Arabia

Mariah Carey has performed a headline show in Saudi Arabia - despite activists' concerns over human rights abuses in the kingdom.

The US singer behind hits like Honey and Fantasy performed in a sequinned black dress in front of screaming crowds at the King Abdullah Economic City.

DJ Tiesto and dancehall artist Sean Paul are also among those set to perform at the multi-billion dollar mega-city, about two hours drive north of Mecca.

Carey is the first international female artist to perform in Saudi Arabia since restrictions were lifted on gender segregation and entertainment last year.

In December, Enrique Iglesias, The Black Eyed Peas and David Guetta also played at shows in the kingdom following high-profile liberalising reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

But the decision to perform in Saudi Arabia has been criticised by rights advocates who point to the imprisonment of women's rights activists, the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the ongoing war in Yemen as evidence that the regime is not serious about human rights.

Many argue that flashy concerts are an attempt by the regime to polish its international image while it continues and even expands oppression at home.

Groups including Amnesty International criticised Carey's decision to perform, arguing that "Mariah should use her voice" to call for the immediate release of female rights activists in prison.

Walid Al Hathloul, whose sister Loujain is imprisoned in Saudi after campaigning for women's rights and against male guardianship, urged Carey to call for her release on stage.

"This concert is a pathetic attempt to show that the country is becoming more tolerant toward women," he wrote. "All I want is justice for my sister."

Omaima A-Najjar, a political refugee from Saudi, also branded the concerts a distraction from the war in Yemen and repressive laws at home.

She has backed a petition calling on Carey to boycott the country, saying taking such a stand would not impact ordinary Saudis as tickets which start at $80 (£61) are unlikely to be affordable for most.

Carey's publicist said the singer was "presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed gender audience in Saudi Arabia" and "accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation".

"As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognises the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all," Carey's publicist said.</s>The Elusive Chanteuse Mariah Carey would be the most famous and highest-profile Western female artist to perform in Saudi Arabia since Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman introduced reforms and loosened his grip on the entertainment industry. But many activists are calling on Mariah Carey to cancel the performance over the kingdom’s reported human rights abuse.

What Kind Of Human Rights Abuse Has Happened In Saudi Arabia Lately?

Lately women in Saudi Arabia have gained the right to drive, the kingdom has since arrested, imprisoned and tortured the women who campaigned for women to drive.

Over the weekend, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof reported on the case of women’s rights activist Loujain Al-Hathloul who was arrested prior to Saudi Arabia lifting its ban on women driving in June. According to Kristof, Loujain continues to be held in a Saudi prison, likely in solitary confinement, where she also has been beaten, waterboarded and endured other forms of torture. Carey’s performance also comes in the wake of an 18-year-old Saudi woman’s high-profile quest for asylum earlier this month. Claiming her parents tried to force her into an arranged marriage. Should we still support Mariah’s decision to perform in Saudi? Is she going to step back and re-consider the situation?…We’re yet to know.

How Did Activists React To Mariah Carey’s Announcement?

Following the announcement of the scheduled Mariah performance, many activists took to social media to react to that and also ask her gently to cancel the performance and not “art-wash” Saudi crimes.

Women’s activist group CodePink called on Carey not to “artwash” Riyadh, and urged her and the other performers to cancel the show. “Doesn’t she know Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive and murderous regimes on the planet?” the group said in a statement launching its petition to call off the concert.</s>As US pop star Mariah Carey prepares for a concert in Saudi Arabia, women's rights activists are asking whether she is aware of the severe repression they face in the Gulf monarchy.

Saudi-American journalist and activist Mona Eltahawy believes Carey may want to reconsider performing.

Carey's concert is planned for Thursday at the King Abdullah Economic City, which is located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of the port city of Jeddah. On social media, many critics agreed that if Carey goes ahead and performs in the country, it would effectively amount to a betrayal of Saudi women, who suffer tremendously under the country's repressive gender laws. Moreover, they say the concert would undermine the work of women's rights activists in Saudi Arabia.

Belgium-based Saudi activist Alia al-Hathloul took to Twitter to remind Carey that her sister, Loujain, has been locked up in a Saudi jail since May 2018 for demanding women be permitted to drive. While women are now allowed behind the wheel, activists such as Loujain, who fought for this right, still remain imprisoned.

Carey wouldn't be the first famous Western singer to hold a concert in Saudi Arabia. Other pop stars such as Enrique Iglesias and David Guetta have already performed there.

Nevertheless, Bloomberg journalist Donna Abu-Nasr says "Carey would be the most high-profile female westerner to perform in the country since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman loosened the reins on the entertainment industry." She hinted that the singer's show could make the country's entertainment sector even more attractive to regional and international investors.

The performance of a female superstar in Saudi Arabia is problematic, argues Saudi activist Amani al-Issa. "The everyday reality of Saudi women does not match this cultural liberalization. Women still need the permission of a male guardian to attend concerts like this," the Australia-based activist told DW. Al-Issa is critical of the fact that women have little say in this reform process: "What we are seeing right now it just the liberalization of the entertainment industry, not of society itself. The economy is also being liberalized but only a small part of society really profits."

Arafat Al Majid, a Saudi journalist and member of Qatif city council, sees things in a more positive light. He says one needs to appreciate that women are now permitted to visit entertainment venues. "Significant changes have occurred, which also have a positive impact on the lives of women," Al Majid told DW, stressing more patience is needed with the Saudi regime. "I am confident that more changes will come and that they will also concern the male guardianship system." However, he admits there will be limits to such reforms: "The system will not be entirely abolished because it builds on Islamic tradition. But the law can be amended."

Al Majid is convinced that the ongoing relative cultural liberalization will pave the way toward greater individual liberties. But Amani al-Issa doubts this. She believes this process should occur in reverse order: "If the state does not pass laws that protect individual liberties there will be no societal change," al-Issa says. "What we need is political liberalization, individual rights and law-making that foster an open society."

So far, Carey has not commented on her planned gig on Thursday, even though women's rights activists from the region have urged her to take a stand. After all, women who dare speak out in public face harsh repercussions in Saudi Arabia.

Read more: When it comes to Saudi Arabia, Germany "turns a blind eye"

Critics fear the Saudi regime will instrumentalize Carey's concert to cast the country in a positive light, and use her pop star fame to distract from its political problems and dismal human rights record. Furthermore, they fear Carey's concert may even help the kingdom regain some respectability after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

However, some detractors have noted that Carey could also use her concert to take a public stand on human and women's rights in Saudi Arabia: She has quite the voice, so she might as well use it.</s>Singer Mariah Carey is going ahead with plans to perform in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, despite calls from activists and human rights groups to cancel the concert.

Carey’s press representative told the Associated Press that the singer saw the international, mixed gender show as a “positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation.” The representative added that “as the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognizes the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all.”

But activists feel otherwise. Many feel that the concert is an attempt to divert attention from human rights abuses in the country and soften the kingdom’s image, particularly in the aftermath of the October killing of Saudi critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Perhaps more significantly, however, a number of Saudi women had expressed hope that Carey would cancel the concert in support of detained women’s rights activists in the country. Omaima Al-Najjar, a Saudi woman living in exile and founder of WARSA, Women for Rights in Saudi Arabia, launched a petition calling on Carey to “boycott apartheid Saudi Arabia.

The petition notes that Saudi remains one of the “most restrictive countries for women,” and while women have fought to make changes, such as revoking the driving ban and abolishing the male guardianship system, many are now “imprisoned, smeared publicly as traitors and brutally tortured.” Noting that artists are “agents of social change,” Al-Najjar and others had hoped that artists like Carey would use their celebrity to stand for women in the country.

As the country loosens restrictions around areas such as entertainment as it seeks to establish a new, reformist image, many other celebrities will likely face a similar dilemma. It remains to be seen what they will do.</s>U.S. pop star Mariah Carey performed in Saudi Arabia, despite calls for her to cancel the show in protest at human rights abuses in the Gulf kingdom.

She was wearing a full-length long-sleeved black sequinned dress and with her hair uncovered when she performed.

She took the stage in the coastal city of Jeddah on Thursday as the first international female star to perform in the kingdom, which has loosened social restrictions in recent years in a bid to attract tourists and investments.

Carey’s performance came after she was asked to support detained women’s rights activists, amid reports by rights group that they have faced torture and sexual harassment.

“As a fan of Carey’s work, I’d like to see her ask for the release of my sister while she is on stage,’’ Walid al-Hathloul, the brother of detained rights activist Loujain, wrote in an op-ed piece on Thursday.

“This concert is a pathetic attempt to show that the country is becoming more tolerant toward women. But there are many women languishing in Saudi prisons, simply for campaigning for the better treatment of women,’’ he added.

Most of the women detained in 2018 have campaigned for the right to drive – which was granted in June and an end to the kingdom’s male guardianship system.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was hailed for championing social and economic reforms as part of his ambitious Vision 2030 plan to help diversify the kingdom’s oil-reliant economy.

The move included hosting entertainment events and re-opening movie theatres after a 35-year ban.

In 2018, Saudi Arabia said it will invest 64 billion dollars in its entertainment sector during the next 10 years.</s>The singer Mariah Carey has been criticised by women’s rights campaigners, who have accused her of helping to airbrush Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record by agreeing to perform there.

Carey appeared with DJ Tiesto, Sean Paul and the Yemen-born singer Balqees Fathi on Thursday in what she has claimed was an opportunity to work towards gender desegregation in the kingdom.

Activists, however, have rejected that. “The Saudi government is using entertainment to distract the people from human rights abuses because it can sense the anger among the public,” said Omaima al-Najjar, a Saudi woman who sought political refuge abroad and co-founded Women for Rights in Saudi Arabia (WARSA).

Najjar said the kingdom uses concerts as a diversion from the Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, human rights abuses committed under the crown prince and repressive male guardianship laws that restrict women’s freedoms.

WARSA launched a petition calling on the singer to boycott the country. It said it was focused on Carey because “she has power to stand for women … as an artist and as a female”.

Other campaigners had urged Carey to take notice of fellow Saudi women’s rights activists who have been imprisoned in recent months, and Najjar said artists such as Carey should make their performances in Saudi Arabia conditional on the release of such people. She said a boycott would not impact ordinary Saudis because many could not afford concert tickets, which started at about £60, with VIP seats costing about £400.

Carey’s publicists told the Associated Press that, when “presented with the offer to perform for an international and mixed gender audience in Saudi Arabia, Mariah accepted the opportunity as a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation”.

They added: “As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognises the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all.” The statement said that Carey “looks forward to bringing inspiration and encouragement to all audiences.</s>A leading human rights organization has hit out at Mariah Carey after the singer took part in a gala concert in Saudi Arabia – telling DailyMailTV her decision to perform in the country is 'outrageous'.

Carey, 48, jetted into Saudi capital Riyadh on Thursday ahead of the gig, which took place in King Abdullah Economic City – a showpiece development perched on the shores of the Red Sea.

The concert, which was staged in front of members of the ruling regime, was held to celebrate the country's first international golf tournament.

Local activists decried the 48-year-old's decision to take part and accused her of 'whitewashing' the Saudi regime's brutal treatment of critics, among them murdered reporter Jamal Khashoggi.

Now the US-based Human Rights Foundation has added to the chorus of criticism, with research associate Prachi Vidwans describing the singer's decision to perform as 'outrageous' in an interview with DailyMail.com.

'Today in Saudi prisons, women are being beaten, tortured, and sexually harassed for opposing laws that violate their basic human rights and force them to be second class citizens in their own country,' Vidwans said.

'It is outrageous that an iconic figure like Mariah Carey -- who herself claims to be an advocate for women's rights -- would perform for Mohammed Bin Salman's brutal regime.

'By performing for him, she will be contributing to his PR campaign by helping him appear modern and progressive.'

Vidwans said the Human Rights Foundation also sent letters to the managers of both Tiesto and Carey ahead of the gig, calling on them to pull out.

In the letter sent to Carey, seen by DailyMail.com, the organization accused the singer of being 'complicit' in the regime's multiple human rights violations by taking part and pointed to its activities in Yemen, as well as its treatment of women.

The missive also contrasted Carey's oft stated support of women's rights with the reality for women living in Saudi Arabia who must ask for permission from a male relative to do everything from work to travel.

Writing in the letter, HRF chairman Garry Kasparov also noted that many of the activists responsible for overturning the country's notorious driving ban have now been thrown in jail where they are allegedly being tortured.

He continued: 'Ms. Carey has been an outspoken advocate for women's rights and has publicly campaigned against gender discrimination.

'Saudi Arabia is by far one of the most patriarchal societies in the world and systematically violates women's rights. Because of the regime's male guardianship system, women cannot work, travel, get married, or exit prison without permission from a male relative.

'Legally, women are second class citizens. Ms. Carey's decision to perform in Saudi Arabia severely undermines her own views on gender equality and her advocacy efforts in support of women's rights.

'Despite her alleged commitment to human rights and humanitarian causes, Ms. Carey has decided to perform for a murderous regime.

'If Ms. Carey moves forward with this performance, she will be complicit in the Saudi regime's attempt to detract attention away from the country's disastrous human rights situation.'

Carey's representatives have yet to respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com but told the Associated Press earlier this week that she regards the concert as 'a positive step towards the dissolution of gender segregation'.

The rep added in a statement: 'As the first female international artist to perform in Saudi Arabia, Mariah recognizes the cultural significance of this event and will continue to support global efforts towards equality for all.'

The Saudi Arabian ruling dynasty has long attracted the ire of human rights campaigners but criticism of the regime has intensified in recent years, due to its ongoing war with Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman – who is known by his initials 'MBS' – had initially appeared to be a modernizer; overturning the ban on women driving and relaxing some of the country's more draconian religious laws.

But in October, he was found to have ordered the murder of Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, who was strangled and dismembered inside the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

MBS also oversaw a purge of fellow princes that saw hundreds locked up inside the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh until they handed over billions of dollars in cash and assets to the regime.
American singer Mariah Carey performs her concert in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, despite Saudi women's rights activists calling for her to cancel it.