Usual supporters of free speech are under fire for signing on to Riyadh festival despite the government’s human rights abusesBilled as “the biggest comedy festival in the world”, the inaugural Riyadh Comedy festival, which is running 26 September to 9 October, features some of the biggest names in US comedy. The lineup features Dave Chappelle, Louis CK, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Aziz Ansari and Jo Koy, among many others who are all taking their fees directly from the Saudi government.The event’s producers include Sela (a live events company owned by Saudia Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund) and the kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority, chaired by Turki Alalshikh, a royal adviser dogged by allegations of human rights violations, including the detention of people who criticize him on social media. Continue reading...