Award-winning American singer and songwriter John Legend took to the stage in Bahrain on Monday night, performing to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,000 people despite calls by some activists to cancel the concert due to concerns over human rights abuses in the Gulf Arab nation.
The concert was guarded by anti-riot police vehicles outside the entrance to the historic open-air Arad Fort in Bahrain's capital.
Several Bahraini activists took to Twitter to urge Legend to boycott the 10th annual Spring of Culture festival, organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
Bahrain, a close U.S. ally that hosts Navy's 5th fleet, has seen nearly daily protests by members of the Shiite majority demanding a greater say in the Sunni-led monarchy. Several thousand protesters have been jailed and dozens killed in the tiny-island nation over the last four years.
Legend has spoken out in support of freedom of expression and civil rights issues in the United States. Legend and rapper Common jointly wrote and performed the Oscar-winning song "Glory," the anthem for the film "Selma," which is based on the historic 1965 march in Alabama led by Martin Luther King Jr.
During their speech to accept the best song Oscar, Legend declared: "We say that 'Selma is now' because the struggle for justice is right now."
In a statement to The Independent newspaper, addressing calls for him to back out of the Bahrain show, Legend said he has "spent quite a bit of time thinking about human rights, civil rights and other issues of justice."
"The best way to drive progress is to show up and participate in the conversation," he said.
Bahrain's leading human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab, took a softer stance toward Legend's visit. He told The Associated Press that he is a fan and welcomes Legend to the country, but would also like to introduce him to relatives of political prisoners.
"I am not against any kind of cultural event and I see that the U.S. civil-rights movement is an inspiration to many Bahraini human rights figures", Rajab said.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.