MUI urges cancellation of Andrea Bocelli concerts in Indonesia

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is urging the government to cancel upcoming concerts by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, scheduled for October 31 at Borobudur Temple and November 3 in Jakarta.

Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, MUI Chairman for Foreign Relations, stated that the cancellation is necessary to uphold Indonesia’s constitutional stance against colonialism and in solidarity with Palestine. The MUI cited Bocelli’s controversial history, including a 2010 appearance at a fundraiser for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Los Angeles and a 2022 concert in Tel Aviv attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The council emphasized that economic benefits, estimated at approximately USD 44 million, should not take precedence over humanitarian principles and Indonesia’s foreign policy. The MUI has previously called for similar actions, such as the cancellation of a concert by American gospel musician Israel Houghton.