The governor of Mecca accuses the rapper Asayel Slay of offending the "customs and traditions" of the inhabitants of the city. He issued an arrest order against the young woman. In her song "Bnt Makkah", "the girl of Mecca", the young woman says her pride to be part of the women of Mecca.

Khaled al-Faiçal, the governor of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, issued an arrest order against the rapper Asayel Slay, accused of offending the "customs and traditions" of the inhabitants of the city in one of his pieces. In the clip of his song "Bnt Makkah", "the girl of Mecca" in French, Asayel Slay rapped in a cafe, veiled with sunglasses and surrounded by dancing girls. She salutes the courage of women living in the holy city and describes them as "sugar candies". The rapper's YouTube account has been suspended.

Saudi Arabia promotes entertainment boom on its territory

This decision contrasts with some recent measures taken by Saudi Arabia. Under the impetus of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a strong man of the kingdom, Ryad encourages the development of entertainment on its territory. An electronic music festival was organized in December near the capital, which was attended by many Saudi women, sometimes without veils.

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But this softening of social standards, well received by the inhabitants, two thirds of whom are under 30 years of age, was also accompanied by repression from opponents. NGOs have thus denounced the arrest of journalists, writers and activists in November, and the kingdom remains under scrutiny by the international community on its human rights record.