Wyclef Asks Fellow Haitians to Give Up Crime

Wyclef Jean is asking the citizens of Haiti to give up crime and live positive lives in a new radio ad sponsored by the United Nations, according to Reuters.

"If you love Wyclef, that means you love Haiti. So you should not be raping women, kidnapping people and children, because there can be no excuse for doing so," says Wyclef in Creole in the short ad.

"I reject these evil practices," continues Jean in the ad, which runs several times a day in local stations. Clef also implores men to respect and protect women's rights.

Wyclef's native home, Haiti, is one of the poorest nations in the world, and has suffered dictatorship, violence, and a slew of other problems. Kidnapping is especially rampant, as 36 official instances of the crime occurred in March in Port-au-Prince, and approximately 30 in February. These recent numbers were a rise from previous months, where the number had dropped to less than 20 a month.

Fred Blaise, a spokesman for the U.N. police, noted that Wyclef's popularity among the Haitian people may have a positive influence on youth involved in crime.

"All kinds of Haitians, the good guys as well as the bad guys, have a lot of appreciation for Wyclef for what he represents as a Haitian," said Blaise. "So they would be more likely to be receptive to Wyclef's message because they are all proud of him."