Saudi Crown Prince Salman came under the target of people because of Riyadh Festival, know why there was ruckus?

Saudi Arabia Riyadh Season Festival: The Riyadh Season Festival is a key part of the Vision 2030 plan of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The festival was started in 2019 and aims to diversify the economy of Saudi Arabia through tourism and entertainment.

This festival, which started on 12 October 2023, includes many global stars and cultural programs from many countries. This year the festival will run till March 2025, in which lakhs of people are participating. The festival is being held in various venues across Riyadh, including theme parks, restaurants, cultural shows, and fashion events.

🇸🇦 Congratulations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Riyadh Season 2024, world’s largest winter entertainment event.
His Majesty Crown Prince MBS has been at the forefront of significant reforms within Saudi Arabia aimed at reducing the influence of extremist ideologies and… pic.twitter.com/BT1pktowqg

— Terror Alarm (@Terror_ Alarm) November 14, 2024

Festival under criticism
There are sharp reactions on social media and other forums regarding the Riyadh Season Festival. There are two main reasons for the criticisms, which are as follows.

Ignoring the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon:
Amidst the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, this grand event is being seen as a lack of sensitivity. Many people believe that this festival shows indifference towards the humanitarian crises that are going on in these areas.

Violation of cultural and religious traditions:
International fashion shows and the clothing of celebrities, notably Jennifer Lopez and Camila Cabello, have raised questions about Saudi culture. On social media it has been described as against Islamic and Saudi traditions.

Gaza conflict and the role of Saudi Arabia
Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the tense situation in Lebanon, grand events like Riyadh Season are being considered insensitive. Some users on social media have called it “shameful” and “immoral”.

elie saab fashion show
One of the most talked about events of this year was Lebanese designer Elie Saab’s fashion show ‘1001 Seasons of Elie Saab’. The show featured a fusion of Arab heritage and modern design, but it also caused controversy. The designs and clothes presented in the show were found to be offensive to many religious and cultural groups. The stage performances of Jennifer Lopez and other artists also created controversy. Regarding Lopez’s clothes and presentation, people on social media called it against Saudi civilization.

Reactions on social media
On social media platforms, such as X (formerly Twitter), users made strong statements regarding the Gaza War. One user wrote, “May Allah forgive us. This festival is against our culture and religion.”

benefit from the festival
Riyadh Season Festival has put Saudi Arabia on the global tourism and entertainment map. In 2022, about 2 crore people participated in this festival, which provided a big support to the economy.

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