Read on below for a breakdown of the Riyadh Comedy Festival controversy that has divided the comedy world. Why is the Riyadh Comedy Festival controversial? Human rights organizations have been ringing the alarm for years on the Saudi government imprisoning human rights advocates, including Waleed Abu al-Khair, who is currently serving a 15-year sentence. The nonprofit watch group is urging participants to "use the comedy festival to publicly urge Saudi authorities to free unjustly detained Saudi dissidents, journalists, and human rights activists." Which comedians are performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival?