Indonesia’s top Muslim council opposes Andrea Bocelli concerts over Israel ties
Indonesia's top Islamic council, the MUI, is opposing upcoming Andrea Bocelli concerts due to the singer's past support for Israel. Local authorities have already withdrawn a permit for the performance at the Borobudur Temple as the government seeks to balance cultural events with public sentiment.
Why it matters
The situation illustrates how geopolitical tensions regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict can directly impact international cultural and entertainment tours in Muslim-majority nations.
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia’s top Islamic council met with government officials Wednesday to voice its opposition to two upcoming concerts by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli , arguing that the singer's past support for Israel is incompatible with the views of many in the Muslim-majority country.
The Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, the country’s highest and most influential body of Islamic scholars, demanded the cancellation of Bocelli’s scheduled performances at the UNESCO-listed Borobudur Temple in Central Java’s Magelang city on Oct. 31 and in the capital Jakarta on Nov. 3.
The council, which initially announced its opposition on Oct. 10, met with Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism to discuss Bocelli’s Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour Indonesia, including the Borobudur performance at one of Indonesia's most iconic historical sites.
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