Conservative Muslim groups in Indonesia yesterday protested outside a Coldplay concert in Jakarta calling for the cancellation of the show because of the “LGBT propaganda” attendees would be exposed to. That’s mainly on the basis that Coldplay have been supportive of LGBTQ+ people over the years.
Around 300 protesters marched a kilometre to the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium where the band were set to play their first ever Indonesian show to an audience of 70,000 people.
The protesters carried a large banner calling for the concert to be called off, saying that the band’s presence in the country was damaging to its “faith and morals”. When they reached the venue, they booed people arriving for the show and there were some clashes with police.
Supporting the protest, the Deputy Chair of Islamic regulatory body the Indonesian Ulema Council, Anwar Abbas, said in a statement: “We know that Coldplay supports LGBT, but now the question is, is the LGBT behaviour in line with ... our constitution? There are six religions recognised in this country, and not one of them allows and tolerates LGBT practice”.
Coldplay did not comment on the protest but, after the performance, thanked their Indonesian fans on Twitter for the “best night ever”. They also promised: “We’ll be back!”
