Karim Zidan delves into the Saudi Arabia’s latest sportswashing attempt following a string of controversial attacks on human rights in the kingdom.
On Saturday, Aug. 20, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua will meet in a highly anticipated rematch for the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
Billed as “The Rage on the Red Sea,” the event is set to take place in the port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and marks the kingdom’s latest attempt to use sports to cleanse its authoritarian image in the wake of its latest string of attacks on human rights.
Earlier this week, Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi student at Leeds University, was given a 34-year prison sentence for using Twitter to follow and retweet dissidents and activists.