WASHINGTON – American pop legend Cher has tweeted her support for a jailedSaudi Arabian royal, appealing to powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmanto “be kind… and let him go”.
Cher tweeted on March 30 that her son, Elijah, was “heartbroken” — usingthe broken heart emoji — over the fate of his “good friend Prince Turkibin Abdullah”.
Prince Turki was among more than 380 royals and businessmen rounded up inNovember in what authorities said was a crackdown on corruption.
A son of the late King Abdullah, the prince was once the governor of theSaudi capital Riyadh. He was one of the most prominent detainees to be heldat the now-infamous Ritz-Carlton.
In an emoji-laden tweet, Cher urged Crown Prince Mohammed — currently on ahigh-profile US tour — to “be kind 2 Turki and let him go free,” adding”INSHALLAH”, Arabic for “God willing”, and “I would speak 4 him”.
Prince Turki’s top aide, Major General Ali al-Qahtani, was also detained inthe graft probe and, according to a New York Times investigation, diedwhile in custody with his body showing signs of torture.
Critics say the corruption crackdown, spearheaded by the powerful PrinceMohammed, is aimed at consolidating the 32-year-old’s grip on power beforehe succeeds his father as king of the world’s largest oil exporter.
Officials have not made public the charges against suspects detained at theRitz-Carlton.
Saudi Arabia’s attorney general has said the state recovered $107 billionin settlements, including property, securities and cash.
Saudi authorities said in January the bulk of the detainees, includingthose who agreed to settle, have been released. – APP/AFP