Active discussions are taking place on social media regarding the upcoming concert of the Kazakh artist Jah Khalib in Bishkek, especially after his performances were canceled in Kazakhstan due to his controversial statements about victims of violence.
Recall that in one of the podcasts, rapper Bakhtiyar Mamedov, better known as Jah Khalib, expressed the opinion that women who dress modestly can reduce the risk of violence from men, as there will always be other Muslims nearby ready to protect them.
He noted: “When my wife goes to the mall in a headscarf and someone harasses her, there will be a Muslim brother nearby, and I can be calm because he will protect her.” Such words led to sharp criticism from the public.
Also, Zhaslan Aitmaganbetov, one of the podcast participants, added that most cases of rape occur when women are “in the wrong place, in the wrong clothes, and at the wrong time,” to which Jah Khalib agreed, pointing to “inappropriate clothing” as the second reason.
The reaction to the artists' statements was quite intense, especially from women's rights advocates in Kazakhstan. After the scandal, in August, Jah Khalib canceled his concerts in the country, citing the need for his daughter's surgery.
Now the rapper has announced a concert in Bishkek at the end of November, but many residents are questioning the appropriateness of his visit.
“Jah Khalib has tried to hold a concert in Kazakhstan several times, but it was canceled. Now he wants to perform in Kyrgyzstan, and many are also against this. Why doesn’t he apologize for his words and try to rehabilitate himself? Or does he still consider himself right?” users of social media are asking.
Reference 24.kg
Jah Khalib is a Kazakh rapper and producer with Azerbaijani and Kazakh roots, known for his melodic compositions about love.
He gained popularity with tracks such as “Medina,” “Leila,” and “Constellation of Angels.” Since 2020, he has been married to a Ukrainian woman who converted to Islam.
