Pop star Jennifer Lopez sang happy birthday to Turkmenistan leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, according to numerous reports on Twitter and elsewhere.
https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/status/351163828727328771
https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/status/351162774065385475
According to the UK Telegraph, J.Lo is “believed to be the first major Western star to visit the isolated former Soviet republic, known primarily for its vast gas reserves and a dismal human rights record.”
Human Rights Watch calls Turkmenistan “one of the world’s most repressive countries”:
The country is virtually closed to independent scrutiny. Media and religious freedoms are subject to draconian restrictions, and human rights defenders and other activists face the constant threat of government reprisal. The authorities continue to use imprisonment as a tool for political retaliation and to restrict peoples’ right to travel freely. Turkmenistan continues to expand relations with foreign governments and international organizations, but without meaningful outcomes for human rights.
Mia Farrow and others expressed disgust and disappointment:
SHAME MT @RonanFarrow:Jennifer Lopez just performed for the dictator of Turkmenistan -per #HRW"one of the world’s most repressive countries"
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) June 30, 2013
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New low for @JLo who just sang for murderous dictator of Turkmenistan- one of world’s most repressive regimes via @RonanFarrow #shame
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) June 30, 2013
Highly disappointed!“@MiaFarrow:New low 4 @JLo who just sang for murderous dictator of Turkmenistan- one of world’s most repressive regimes”
— CAT (@NYCatNY) June 30, 2013
So apparently @JLo IS from the block…in Turkmenistan that is.
— hina ansari (@hinapansari) June 30, 2013
https://twitter.com/Perseus009/status/351180850135711747
But cheer up; there’s always a silver lining:
https://twitter.com/daveanthony/status/351187577866436608
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