Hundreds of Muslims protested against British band Coldplay ahead of their concert in Indonesia, claiming that the band are LGBTQ “propagandists.”
On Wednesday, around 300-500 Muslims participated in the anti-LGBTQ protest against Coldplay at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta.
However, calls to cancel the concert ultimately failed.
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— z (@pjyjiaer) November 15, 2023
coldplay in jakarta#coldplayjakarta pic.twitter.com/8gUkr309zx
Anti-LGBTQ groups protest Coldplay's first Indonesia gig – Society – The Jakarta Post https://t.co/upVAp94gAp
— GigHamster (@gighamster) November 16, 2023
First Post reported:
“On Wednesday, more than 200 fundamentalist Muslims protested in the capital of Indonesia, demanding that Coldplay’s performance be canceled due to the British band’s support of the LGBTQ+ community.
The demonstrators carried a big banner that said, “Reject, cancel and disband Coldplay concerts,” as they marched roughly a kilometre (half a mile) from the Jakarta concert venue where the band was scheduled to play.”
It called the band “propagandists for the LGBTQ+ community,” claiming that their views undermine “faith and morals.”
Although Indonesia is a secular nation with a long tradition of religious tolerance, in recent years a small extremist fringe has gained voice.
Agence France-Presse reported:
“Many of them were part of a group that calls itself the “anti-LGBT movement,” and when confronted by police, protesters started to push and clash with officers.
They booed at concertgoers arriving at the stadium and shouted accusations that they were LGBTQ supporters, according to local media reports.”
Some carried banners accusing Coldplay of “LGBT propaganda” and damaging the country’s “faith and morals.”
More than 70,000 people attended the concert, part of their “Music of the Spheres World Tour.”
Protesters were from several different Muslim groups, one of which calls itself the “anti-LGBT movement.”
Protesters were from several different Muslim groups, including one that calls itself the “anti-LGBT movement.”
Anwar Abbas, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Indonesia’s Islamic regulatory body, also criticized the concert.
“We know that Coldplay supports LGBT, but now the question is, is the LGBT behaviour in line with… our constitution?” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“There are six religions recognized in this country, and not one of them allows and tolerates LGBT practice.”
Over 4,000 police officers were deployed at the concert.
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