Current:Home > reviewsConservative Muslims in Indonesia protest Coldplay concert over the band’s LGBTQ+ support -FutureFinance
Conservative Muslims in Indonesia protest Coldplay concert over the band’s LGBTQ+ support
View
Date:2025-04-16 06:12:01
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — More than 200 conservative Muslims marched in Indonesia’s capital on Wednesday, calling for the cancellation of a Coldplay concert that night over the British band’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The protesters, marching about 1 kilometer (half a mile) away from the concert venue in Jakarta where the band was set to perform, held a large banner that read: “Reject, cancel and disband Coldplay concerts.” It described the band as an LGBTQ+ “propagandist,” saying its stance damages “faith and morals.”
The same protest group also staged demonstrations last week at several locations in Jakarta, including the British Embassy.
Indonesia is secular and has a long history of religious tolerance, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
Coldplay is renowned for interlacing its values with its shows, such as the band’s push for environmental sustainability. Lead singer Chris Martin has been known to wear rainbow colors and wave gay pride flags during performances.
The protests follow concert cancellations earlier this year in Southeast Asia over LGBTQ+-related issues. British pop rock band The 1975 canceled its shows in Jakarta and Taipei in July after the Malaysian government cut short a music festival in the wake of the band’s lead singer slamming the country’s anti-gay laws and kissing a male bandmate during their performance.
Lady Gaga canceled her sold-out show in Indonesia in 2012 over security concerns after Muslim hard-liners threatened violence if the pop star went ahead with her “Born This Way Ball” concert.
The Asian leg of Coldplay’s “Music Of The Spheres World Tour” includes Wednesday’s concert at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta. More than 70,000 tickets were sold in less than two hours when sales opened in May.
Jakarta is one of the band’s top streaming hubs, with 1.6 million fans in the city.
___
Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
veryGood! (19745)
Related
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Tierna Davidson injury update: USWNT star defender will miss match vs Australia in 2024 Paris Olympics
- Text of the policy statement the Federal Reserve released Wednesday
- Images from NASA's DART spacecraft reveal insights into near-Earth asteroid
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Texas is home to 9 of the 10 fastest growing cities in the nation
- Why Mandy Moore Fans Think She’s Hinting at a Princess Diaries 3 Cameo
- US stands by decision that 50 million air bag inflators are dangerous, steps closer to huge recall
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- New Jersey school is removing Sen. Bob Menendez’s name from its building
Ranking
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Deion Sanders' son Shilo accused of trying to 'avoid responsibility' in bankruptcy case
- Olympics gymnastics live updates: Shinnosuke Oka wins gold, US men finish outside top 10
- Almost a year after MSU firing, football coach Mel Tucker files suit
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Rudy Giuliani agrees to deal to end his bankruptcy case, pay creditors’ financial adviser $400k
- Kamala Harris, Megyn Kelly and why the sexist attacks are so dangerous
- Olympic officials address gender eligibility as boxers prepare to fight
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Inmate set for sentencing in prison killing of Boston gangster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger
2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game: Date, time, how to watch Bears vs. Texans
Elon Musk is quietly using your tweets to train his chatbot. Here’s how to opt out.
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Hawaii’s process for filling vacant legislative seats is getting closer scrutiny
MrBeast, YouTube’s biggest star, acknowledges past ‘inappropriate language’ as controversies swirl
Author of best-selling 'Sweet Valley High' book series, Francine Pascal, dies at 92