GOP lawmaker criticizes J. Lo. for Turkmenistan show

Performing in Turkmenistan, one of most repressive regimes, was missed opportunity 4 @JLo 2 speak up 4 #HumanRights http://t.co/g0XaF2wVuK

— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) July 1, 2013

Lopez sang “Happy Birthday” to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Turkmenistan’s president, during a show on Saturday night.

{mosads}Berdimuhamedow, who was not present when Lopez sang, has been strongly criticized for human rights violations. The most recent report from the State Department said that “security officials tortured and beat criminal suspects, prisoners, and individuals deemed critical of the government to extract confessions and as a form of punishment.”

Lopez’s publicist said that the singer was unaware of the human rights record and would not have performed there if she had known.

“Had there been knowledge of human rights issues any kind, Jennifer would not have attended,” the publicist said according to the Associated Press.