Indonesian Muslims have been marching in protest of a Coldplay concert in Jakarta. The uproar was in response to the band’s open support of the LGBTQ community.
Concert Protests in Jakarta
On Wednesday more than 200 people rallied together in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, to protest a concert by British band Coldplay. The protest stood against Coldplay’s past support of LGBTQ issues and the international LGBTQ community.
Conservative Indonesians Against Coldplay
The protest was made up of conservative Muslims who objected to the band’s LGBTQ affiliations and called for their only Indonesian concert to be canceled. It took place just 1 kilometer away from the concert venue.
Reject, Cancel, and Disband
Protesters touted banners that called on Indonesians to “Reject, cancel and disband Coldplay concerts,” as well as describing the bands as “propagandists” that contradict “faith and morals.”
Harassing Concert-Goers
They also booed concert attendees who were arriving at the stadium for the concert that night. Protestors jeered Coldplay fans and accused them of being LGBTQ supporters too.
Multiple Demonstrations
Last week the same group held demonstrations in other areas of Jakarta, including the British Embassy.
Coldplay’s LGBTQ History
Coldplay are known for sharing their socio-political views through their music and performances. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, has touted gay pride flags and worn rainbow-colored clothing at a number of concerts.
Police Against Protestors
The protest was largely dismissed by Jakarta law enforcement. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, a police spokesman, said that the group did not have a permit to form the protest. 4000 police personell were then deployed to secure the stadium.
The “Anti-LGBTQ Movement”
Many people at the protest were members of a conservative Islamic group who have described themselves as being part of the “anti-LGBT movement.”
When police arrived at the scene and attempted to disband the rally, some people began to push back against law enforcement.
Typically Tolerant
While Indonesia is a conservative country with an overwhelming Muslim majority, the country is typically tolerant of religious diversity. However, extremist groups have grown larger and more vocal in recent years.
Still Taboo in Indonesia
Homosexuality is only outlawed in the conservative Aceh region of Indonesia, but it is still a taboo subject throughout the country. Same-sex Indonesian couples still experience significant discrimination in everyday life.
Indonesian Ulema Council Speaks Out
Anwar Abbas, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s semi-official body for Islamic affairs, publically criticized the move to continue the concert, as it was not “in line” with the beliefs of the nation.
Not in Line With the Constitution
“We know that Coldplay supports LGBT, but now the question is, is the LGBT behavior in line with… our constitution?”
Abbas said in an official statement. “There are six religions recognized in this country, and not one of them allows and tolerates LGBT practice.”
Pushback Around SEA
Other musicians have experienced pushback while performing in Southeast Asia due to their pro-LGBTQ opinions.
British band The 1975 was forced to cancel shows in the region in July after being condemned by the Malaysian government.
The band criticized Malaysia’s anti-gay legislation and caused an uproar when two male band members kissed on stage in Kuala Lumpur.
The Show Goes Ahead
Wednesday’s concert took place at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium. It was the only concert the band played in Indonesia as part of the Asian leg of the international Coldplay tour.
The concert sold over 70,000 tickets just a few hours after going on sale.
No Comments Yet
So far, neither the members of Coldplay nor the band’s management have publicly commented on the protest.
The post Indonesia’s Conservative Muslim Groups Voice Concerns Over Coldplay Concert Due to LGBTQ Support first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Iqro Rinaldi. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
