Lucrezia Ciotti Andrea Bocelli 's world tour has ended in controversy: in Indonesia, calls have been made for the cancellation of two of the tenor's concerts due to his alleged support for Israel. The incident, which intertwines music and international tensions, jeopardizes the October 31st and November 3rd dates, while it remains unclear whether the protests will lead to a permanent cancellation.
Andrea Bocelli's alleged support for Israel sparks controversy, prompting calls for concert cancellations.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the country's leading body of Islamic scholars, has called for the cancellation of two concerts by the Italian tenor , challenging his alleged support for Israel . This stance has sparked debate in Indonesia, where support for the Palestinian cause is widespread, and could impact the performance schedule.
At this time, however, no definitive cancellation has been announced.
The dates involved are October 31st at the Borobudur Temple , a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Magelang, on the island of Java, and November 3rd in Jakarta , the Indonesian capital. Both events are part of the tour organized to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Romanza , the album that helped make Bocelli famous throughout the world.
The MUI's request, reported by the Associated Press , was made public on October 10 and is based on several initiatives the artist allegedly participated in in the past. Neither the singer nor the organizers, according to available information, have so far commented publicly on the matter.
The accusations of the Ulema Council and the position of the Indonesian government
The protests are primarily rooted in two incidents: a 2010 fundraiser in Los Angeles for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a concert Bocelli held in Tel Aviv in 2022. The MUI considers these precedents incompatible with the country's values and its own religious line, linking the support given to the tenor to the consequences of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the organization declared that " giving space to a figure who has financed or supported military actions linked to humanitarian abuses in Gaza is contrary to the values of the Indonesian nation and the religious leadership of the MUI ." This stance has thus transformed two musical events into a case that goes beyond the world of entertainment.
Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities are evaluating how to handle the situation. Bayu Aji, secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the Council of Ulema, reiterating the government's position on the Middle East issue: " The government's position is clear: we support Palestine ." Aji also specified that, following the MUI's intervention, the authorities will comply with the body's decision. An initial sign of the difficulties came with the withdrawal of the recommendation for issuing the permit for the Borobudur concert, a circumstance that fuels doubts about the event's confirmation.
In recent days, some pro-Palestinian groups have also called for a boycott of Andrea Bocelli's concert scheduled for November 27th in Petra, Jordan. It remains to be seen whether the MUI's pressure will lead to an actual cancellation of the concerts or whether a solution can be found to save the shows.