In Indonesia, thousands of traditional Muslims staged a protest outside of Coldplay’s first-ever performance to denounce the band for its prior support of the LGBTQ community.
Due to their opinions regarding LGBTQ rights, which they claim are in opposition to the nation’s conservative religious and moral principles, a number of Islamist parties had called for the British band ‘ music in the Muslim-majority nation to get canceled.
Direct singer Chris Martin has recently worn rainbows colors and waved gay Pride flags during performances as a sign of support for the LGBTQ community. Coldplay is known for being vocal about their political and social viewpoints on different issues.
According to Agence France- Presse, the group was scheduled to perform in front of 70,000 spectators on November 15 at Gelora Bung Karno facility in the capital city of Jakarta as part of its” Song of the Spheres World Tour,” which sold out days after reservations went on sale.
At least 300 conservative Muslim protesters who identified as part of the “anti-LGBT action” chanted and held flags outside the music, accusing Coldplay of disseminating “LGB propaganda” and harming the nation’s “faith and ethics.”
Additionally, they booed and heckled attendees, calling them Gay supporters, pleading for the show to be canceled, and criticizing the band. In the days leading up to the music, the same opposition party also organized protests at a number of areas in Jakarta.
According to NBC News, the same opposition group held protests last week at a number of areas in Jakarta, including the British Embassy.
Officers made an effort to intervene and restore order when some of the protesters started pushing and shoving. Back-and-forth fights broke out between officers and protesters as a result, with 4, 000 police officers in full being sent to protect the music.
The protesters lacked the necessary permits to hold a protest, according to Jakarta police spokeswoman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko.
The most influential Islamist governmental body in Indonesia, the Indonesian Ulema Council, whose deputy president Anwar Abbas criticized authorities for allowing the show to go on.
The question is, is the LGBT behaviour in line with… our constitution?” We know that Coldplay supportsLGBT. On Wednesday, he said in a speech. Not one of the six recognized religions in this nation permits or tolerates LGBT process.
Except for the traditional province of Aceh, where Sharia law is enforced, homosexuality is not expressly prohibited in Indonesia. However, in the traditional Muslim-majority society, same-sex relations and Gay legal protections are mainly opposed.LGBTQ people can also experience persecution and discrimination at the hands of their other citizens in daily life.
Coldplay has never commented on the demonstrations, but on Tuesday, he posted a picture of direct singer Chris Martin strolling barefoot through the heart of Jakarta on Facebook.
It took us 25 times to get to Jakarta, and it took me until the B-Stage portion of the show to remember to post this photo. The singer’s musician May Champion later posted to the bands ‘ X account, writing:” [B] etter later than not!” It’s sweltering, sensual, and amazing in every way. We appreciate you waiting for us.
