BAKU — Campaigners warned pop stars Rihanna and Shakira that their concerts in Azerbaijan this month would be held against a backdrop of alleged human rights violations and crackdowns on free speech.



“Top selling artists Rihanna and Shakira should bear in mind the human rights abuses being inflicted on the people of Azerbaijan before they perform in the country’s capital later this month,” Amnesty International said in a statement.



The two singers are to appear in Baku this month at concerts staged around the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup football tournament which is currently being held in the oil-rich ex-Soviet state.



Pop star Jennifer Lopez has already performed at the football tournament’s opening ceremony, where her concert featured strongman President Ilham Aliyev’s singing son-in-law Emin Agalarov as a support act. — AFP