The musician Cher is asking Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to release one of his jailed relatives.
Bin Salman, currently on a U.S. tour, cemented his role as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler last year by purging rival royals in what was billed as an anti-corruption drive.
Many royals were released after returning a portion of their personal fortunes, but 56 reportedly remain detained, including Prince Turki bin Abdullah, for whom Cher advocated.
“Worry 4 My Son’s Good Friend Prince Turki bin Abdullah.He’s a Young Prince With Kind [heart],& No Desire 2 Take Over Anything,” Cher tweeted Friday.
Cher wrote that her son Elijah “Is [heart-broken],& Speaks So Fondly Of Turki. My [prayers] 2 Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud, ‘Be Kind 2 Turki & Let Him Go Free’,INSHALLAH I Would Speak 4 Him.”
Worry 4 My Son’s Good Friend Prince Turki bin Abdullah.He’s a Young Prince With Kind❤️,& No Desire 2 Take Over Anything. Elijah Is?,& Speaks So Fondly Of Turki. My??2 Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud,
”Be Kind 2 Turki & Let Him Go Free”,INSHALLAH
I Would Speak 4 Him— Cher (@cher) March 30, 2018
Bin Salman arrived in the U.S. on March 19 for what has been characterized as a charm offensive. He met with President Trump at the White House on March 20, where he touted Saudi investment in the U.S., and last week he met a trio of American Jewish leaders.
Although the crown prince, 32 years old, has presented himself as a modernizer, shepherding the legalization of women driving, he’s also seen as a leading force behind an aggressive Saudi foreign policy in the Mideast, including an intervention in Yemen, where thousands of civilians have died and millions faced famine.
