Since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has been holding daily meetings with security, religious, and artistic leaders, top secret sources revealed.
The sources said that MBS warned against collecting any donations for the victims of the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. He also ordered preachers not to talk about the Gaza aggression or to perform prayers for the Palestinian victims.
He also ordered Saudi TV channels to reduce broadcasting news about Israeli aggression and to reduce hosting resistance leaders, except with his personal permission.
On the other hand, MBS directed the head of the entertainment authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, not to go ahead with the entertainment Riyadh Season and asked him to incite some artists who chose to boycott the event in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
This came after the Egyptian artist Mohamed Salam decided not to participate in the controversial event, in solidarity with the victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Turki Al-Sheikh, has responded to those he described as “bidders” who use the Kingdom’s name, his name, or the name of the Riyadh Season as a “peg” to divert attention from another event or another situation.
This came in a post by Turki Al-Sheikh on his Facebook page, where he said: “There is an important point that I think must be pointed out clearly, and I have not spoken much recently, but I think it is important to talk now… In the year 1967 AD, when countries were occupied, nothing stopped; during the Lebanon War, nothing stopped; and when my country was in a war for 7 years, nothing stopped; and Saudi blood is more precious to me than anything.”
“I do not know when the mockery of using the name of the Kingdom, my name, or the name of the Riyadh season in anything as a peg to divert attention from another event or another situation will end.”
Turki Al-Sheikh’s post comes in the wake of the widespread controversy raised by Egyptian artist Muhammad Salam when he apologised for participating in a show in Riyadh Season amid the current Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, headed by Turki Al-Sheikh, earlier announced that Lebanese-Colombian singer Shakira will perform at first-ever concert in Saudi Arabia, which is held as a part of the Riyadh Season 2023.
The 4th edition of the Riyadh Season is held under the slogan of “Big Time”, which started last Saturday.
Turki Al-Sheikh announced the performance on social media alongside various performers.
