This Thursday (12), Rod Stewart spoke about his decision to turn down an offer to perform in Saudi Arabia.
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In his Instagram account he shared a statement saying he made the decision to “shine a light on the injustices”. “I’m grateful that I have a choice whether or not to perform in Saudi Arabia. So many citizens there have extremely limited choices – women, the LGBTQ community, the press. I’d like my choice not to go…to shine a light on the injustices there and ignite positive change”.
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The statement was signed off with Stewart’s name. This came after a report made by the UK newspaper The Mirror, saying that Rod rejected the offer due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights records. A report made by Amnesty International about Saudi Arabia in 2022 detailed the issues the country’s approach with human rights, including a Personal Status Law that came into effect in the country that “enables discrimination against women, including through male guardianship”.
Stewart had already turned down a chance to perform in Qatar in the past. In an interview to The Sunday Times in 2022, he explained that he rejected a considerable sum to play there. “I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1million, to play there 15 months ago. I turned it down. It’s not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms. Tell you what, supporters have got to watch out, haven’t they?”