Belgian-Italian singer Lara Fabian has canceled a concert in Uzbekistan.
In a message on the social-networking website Facebook on October 24, Fabian said that she was shocked to discover that she was being used as a "shop window" for the Uzbek regime, which is accused of grave rights abuses, including torture.
Fabian added that she canceled the concert after discovering the cultural festival in Tashkent was organized by Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan's authoritarian ruler Islam Karimov.
Fabian said that she will never support regimes that flout basic human rights.
The 43-year-old singer said there was a difference between performing in authoritarian countries and participating in events directly controlled by rights abusers. Karimova started the festival in 2006.
In a message on the social-networking website Facebook on October 24, Fabian said that she was shocked to discover that she was being used as a "shop window" for the Uzbek regime, which is accused of grave rights abuses, including torture.
Fabian added that she canceled the concert after discovering the cultural festival in Tashkent was organized by Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan's authoritarian ruler Islam Karimov.
Fabian said that she will never support regimes that flout basic human rights.
The 43-year-old singer said there was a difference between performing in authoritarian countries and participating in events directly controlled by rights abusers. Karimova started the festival in 2006.
