(Jakarta) Dozens of conservative Muslims marched in the Indonesian capital on Friday, calling for the cancellation of Coldplay’s next concert due to the British group’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Coldplay is known for associating its values with its shows, such as its promotion of environmental sustainability. Singer Chris Martin is known for wearing rainbow colors and waving gay pride flags during his performances.
The Asian leg of the world tour Music Of The Spheres by Coldplay includes a concert on November 15 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. More than 70,000 tickets were sold in less than two hours in May.
Critics say Coldplay’s performance is suggestive and that the band’s support for the LGBTQ+ community threatens to undermine Indonesia’s moral fiber and corrupt its youth.
Nearly 100 protesters filled a major Jakarta thoroughfare after Friday prayers.
The protesters – organized by the Islamist group 212 Brotherhood Alumni, whose name refers to the December 2, 2016 mass protests against polarizing Christian politician Basuki Tjahaja Purnama – chanted “God is great” and “We reject Coldplay” as they were marching towards the heavily secured British embassy in Jakarta.
“We are here with the aim of protecting our young generation of this country from efforts that could corrupt the youth,” argued Hery Susanto, a protester from the West Java city of Bandung.
“As Indonesian Muslims, we must reject the Coldplay concert. »
Lady Gaga canceled her sold-out concert in Indonesia in 2012 due to security concerns after Muslim hardliners threatened violence if the pop star went ahead with her show titled Born This Way Ball.