Leaders of the women-led social justice organization CodePink are urging Carey not to perform in Saudi Arabia later this week in what they called "one of the world's most repressive, misogynist, gender-segregated countries."
"Does Mariah Carey really want to be associated with regime that cuts up the body of journalist with a bone saw, beheads people for non-violent drug offenses, tortures women who want to free themselves from the oppressive male guardianship system, makes homosexuality punishable by death, and has created a humanitarian situation in Yemen so severe it has already taken the lives of around 85,000 young Yemeni children?" asked Medea Benjamin, one of the organization's co-founders, in a statement.
Flyers for the Thursday concert began circulating social media in recent days. Fellow musical artists Sean Paul and Tiesto are also billed as performers.
Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul remains imprisoned after being arrested last May for advocating for women's rights in the country. And last October, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
"Is this what @MariahCarey @tiesto @duttypaul want to be a part of?" Washington Post editor Karen Attiah tweeted Sunday. "Performing at the behest of the Saudi regime that kills and dismembers US-based journalists like #khashoggi, targets others abroad, and imprisons and tortures beautiful souls like @LoujainHathloul?"
Reps for Carey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The pop star, 48, previously drew backlash after The New York Times reported Carey had taken money from the son of Libyan dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi to perform at a New Year's Party to ring in 2009. She later apologized. Carey also garnered criticism after she performed for Angola's then-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos in 2013.
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