Bocelli concerts face uncertainty after MUI opposition
The Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) objection to Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s planned concerts, given his past activities linked to Israel, has put the events under a cloud, with the Tourism Ministry signaling it would respect the council’s position.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is opposing Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s planned concerts in Indonesia due to his past support for Israel, casting doubt on the events and leading the Tourism Ministry to respect the council’s stance. Bocelli is set to perform at Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, on October 31 and in Jakarta on November 3 as part of his Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour.
Tourism Ministry Secretary Bayu Aji stated that the ministry will comply with the MUI's decision, once officially notified, as they continue to discuss the matter involving religious community values and Indonesia’s foreign policy. The ministry hopes Bocelli’s camp will release a statement supporting Palestinian independence, though they clarified that concert permits are beyond their jurisdiction.
Local authorities in Magelang withdrew their recommendation for a permit for Bocelli’s concert at Borobudur Temple, with Magelang Police removing billboards promoting the event following a meeting with protesters against the show. MUI deputy secretary-general for arts and culture, Erick Yusuf, clarified that the council is not targeting Bocelli personally but is objecting to his support for Israel.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
