Saudi Arabia Uses Celebrities to Whitewash Abuses

Click to expand Image People spend the evening at the Diriyah Oasis amusement park in Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 13, 2019. © 2019 AP Photo/Amr Nabil The Covid-19 pandemic has put Saudi Arabia’s mega-events on hold, but that hasn’t stopped Saudi authorities from confirming a slew of major functions for 2021, including a Formula 1 Grand Prix race. These events are part of a deliberate government strategy aimed at whitewashing human rights violations. Billions of dollars are spent hosting extravagant entertainment, cultural, and sporting affairs to provide…

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