Algerian Rai star Cheb Khaled sang Monday evening at the opening ceremony of Beitiddine Festivals along with the Egyptian singer Hakim and the Palestinian violin player Simon Shahin.
At a press conference held Sunday in Beirut, Cheb Khaled responded to questions, which focused on his participation in a concert in Rome along with the Israeli singer Noa. He said, “I did not make any mistake and my conscious is clear,” adding that he would continue singing for peace in the Middle East and Algeria as the peace camp face an invisible enemy but he fears nobody.”
“I am a man of peace and want to sing for peace. Our image as Arabs and Muslims has been littered with terrorism. We all, even singers, should tell the whole world that we are a nation of peace and not terrorists,” said Khaled.
The Rai star said, “criticisms make me sad but I don’t fear being boycotted,” adding “my dream is to sing in Palestine. I am proud of my Arab and Islamic identity.”
Khaled reiterated that his participation in Rome concert aimed at singing for peace and the Algerian issue. “Therefore, I do not care as the Algerian president Abdel Aziz Bou Taflikah himself said that the Algerian artists reflected a positive image about Algeria in the whole world,” said Cheb Khaled -- Albawaba.com
