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Saudi Arabia claims to promote entertainment and music, spending millions on Western artists to come to the country and perform.

A black Saudi woman rapper released a (dope!) music video called "Girls of Mecca".

After being subjected to racist harassment, she was jailed!
The Governor of Mecca said Asayel Slay's video, which praises women for being strong and beautiful, "insults the customs and people of Mecca"

And had her and others involved arrested.

Asayel's song is amazing. Everyone should listen and share it! This Afrobeat is 🔥

This is Saudi #BlackGirlMagic. This is the ethnic diversity and creativity Saudi Arabia should be helping to encourage, not repress!

#Mecca_Girl_Represents_Me

All of the Western celebrities, influencers and media fell all over themselves for the Saudi regime cash to go to the @MDLBeast festival in Dec...

Maybe some of those celebrities could redeem themselves and help get Asayel out of jail.

And then get her a record deal!
@MDLBeast The level of anti-black racism coming from online social media accounts from Saudi Arabia is astounding.

Is it a crime to show the world that Saudi Arabia has (talented) dark-skinned women who are proud to be Saudi?

Black women are global!

@MDLBeast I would see an Asayel Slay concert in a second.

Saudi Arabia flies in American rappers and hip-hop artists, and uses fake accounts to praise those celebrities and hype their performances--

While homegrown rappers are jailed.

And says this is "progress"?

Make it make sense!
@MDLBeast Scores of black and African Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Malcolm X wrote about how his Mecca truly advanced his views on racial solidarity.

Today, Saudi Arabia jails a black woman rapper for being proud of being from Mecca.

Happy Black History Month?
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More from @KarenAttiah see all

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Karen Attiah
@KarenAttiah
NIGERIA.

The largest black population in the world. A large Muslim population. A US ally, and one of the most important economies in Africa.

Trump's comments about African nations being sh*thole countries were not just words. He was foreshadowing actual policy direction.
So let me be clear on religion in Nigeria: The country is almost equally split between Christian and Muslim. In terms of US immigration, most Nigerians that come to the US are Christian.
Nigeria being added to Trump’s travel/immigration restriction list has nothing to do with religion, national security, or logic or sane foreign policy.

Remember when Trump said that once Nigerians see the US, they would “never go back to their huts”?

It’s about racism.
Read 3 tweets
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Karen Attiah
@KarenAttiah
So a few thoughts about this @MDLBeast festival, Saudi Arabia's regime, and influencer culture...
A ton of models, mini-celebrities and and social media influencers were paid (A LOT) to be flown out to Saudi Arabia and post a few pictures of the @MDLBeast festival. Including Jourdan Dunn, Halima Aden (@Kinglimaa) and Negin Mirsalehi, just to name a few.
Props to the anonymous but AWESOME IG account @diet_prada for calling out the influencers and their agents for agreeing to use their image to help whitewash (socialwash?) the Saudi regime.
Read 16 tweets
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Karen Attiah
@KarenAttiah
I need everyone to pay attention to what @Uber CEO @dkhos is saying here.

Not only is he running cover for the Saudi government by saying the pre-planned murder of a @washingtonpost writer was a "mistake", he compares the murder of a human being to Uber making a tech glitch.
@Uber @dkhos @washingtonpost Jamal Khashoggi used @Uber to get around in Washington/Virginia area. He didn't have a car for a while when he went into self exile.

The sick and sad irony of Uber CEO @dkhos calling his murder by the Saudi regime a "mistake". That we should consider forgiveness. #BoycottUber
@Uber @dkhos @washingtonpost Everyone who uses Uber should consider the implications of @dkhos's words

If one of @Uber's main investors kills someone it doesn't really matter. A representative of a murderous regime can still keep a board seat.

When you're rich, your crimes become "mistakes". #BoycottUber
Read 4 tweets

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Mona Eltahawy
@monaeltahawy
I am glad that Maha and Wafa al-Subaie are free and safe. Every #Saudi woman deserves to live freely and safely and with dignity in her own country. Until male guardianship is abolished, Saudi women will continue to escape: reuters.com/article/us-geo… #EndMaleGuardianship
“We are thrilled to announce that we are leaving Georgia. We are on our way to start a new life in a new country”
“keep reporting and writing stories about Saudi women. Many of whom are still trapped in abusive homes or spending time behind bars for disobeying their guardians.” #EndMaleGuardianship
Read 3 tweets
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Mona Eltahawy
@monaeltahawy
Eman blogged and tweeted as @Saudiwoman and was instrumental in the campaign to end the driving ban. She detained in May and tortured at the orders of the de facto leader of #Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, who has just appointed a woman to be Saudi ambassador to DC
I cannot begin to imagine what Eman has been subjected to #StandWithSaudiHeroes
Eman: you are a hero and we remember you. You have been subjected to torture and sexual harassment that calls to mind the Argentine Dirty War. We remember you #StandWithSaudiHeroes
Read 7 tweets
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Mona Eltahawy
@monaeltahawy
Same #Saudi regime that has imprisoned without charge women’s rights activists since May and tortured them, including via water boarding. Same Saudi regime whose counter extremism agency made a public service announcement conflating feminism with terrorism. It’s not about “first”
This is typical #Saudi regime MO. #Saudi Arabia subjects women to a form of gender apartheid that requires all girls and women to have a male guardian that controls almost every aspect of their life. It’s not about “first.”
This same “first woman ambassador” like all #Saudi women has a male guardian. It could be her father, husband, brother and even son. It’s not about “first.”
Read 11 tweets
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Mona Eltahawy
@monaeltahawy
#Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman,suspected to have ordered murder of journalist #JamalKashoggi, launched unprecedented crackdown vs women’s rights activists in May. Those activists have been tortured & one has tried suicide 3 times google.com/amp/s/www.wash… h/t @SherifaZuhur
Some of the activists (none of whom have been formally charged or given access to lawyers) have been subjected to psychological or physical abuse while in custody, including electric shocks, sexual harassment, sleep deprivation and beatings. #Saudi
“In one reported instance, one of the activists was made to hang from the ceiling, and according to another testimony, one of the detained women was reportedly subjected to sexual harassment, by interrogators wearing face masks.” amnesty.org/en/latest/news… #Saudi
Read 21 tweets
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Mona Eltahawy
@monaeltahawy
“Their mother told detectives the day before the bodies were discovered, she received a call from an official at the Saudi Arabian Embassy, ordering the family to leave the U.S. because her daughters had applied for political asylum, New York police said” apnews.com/094178ff98c34d…
How did the #Saudi embassy know the sisters had applied for aayuum?
Whoever told the #Saudi embassy that Rotana and Tala has applied for asylum jeopardized their lives. There is a reason - a danger they are escaping - that someone applies for asylum. When you tell the embassy of their country of origin, you further endanger them.
Read 10 tweets
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Mona Eltahawy
@monaeltahawy
The bodies of 2 sisters from #Saudi Arabia were found in Hudson river, bound together by duct tape at their waists & ankles. Rotana Farea, 22, & Tala Farea, 16 “had recently requested asylum in the United States.” nytimes.com/2018/10/29/nyr… h/t @rerutled
👆🏽reminded me of #Saudi woman Dina Lasloom,who tried to escape forced marriage by going to #Australia for asylum but was detained at Manila airport until uncles came,beat her,tied mouth,arms,legs w/duct tape & dragged her onto plane home google.com/amp/s/www.nyti… #GenderApartheid
Death of 2 #Saudi sisters is highly suspicious. I hope coroner’s report is issued soon. I lived in Saudi Arabia as a teenager & for past 16yrs have been writing about #genderaprtheid in Saudi Arabia. Treatment of women is outrageous. And too often ignored or diminished.
Read 10 tweets

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