Manama: A concert by legendary Iranian singer Googoosh, scheduled to be held in Bahrain next month, has been cancelled.
The 60-year-old superstar was set to present the ‘Googoosh Memory Lane concert' on July 30 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, as part of Bahrain's Summer Festival 2010. This was announced by Culture and Information Minister Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa on June 6.
Eisa Ameen, the ministry's newly-appointed Undersecretary, said that the cancellation was due to technical reasons, but she did not elaborate.
However, sources said that the ministry has been under diplomatic pressure to drop the concert of the singer who enjoys an iconic status in Bahrain, as well as beyond.
Unlike many of Iran's prominent musicians, particularly women, Googoosh stayed in Iran after the rise of the Islamic Republic in 1979, but she eventually left in 2000. She has recorded hundreds of songs in English, French, Spanish and Italian and performed in 25 films as part of her illustrious international career.
The diva had performed in Dubai on March 13 this year at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
