More artists stand behind 'raunchy' singer Inul<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The country's dangdut world is seeing one of the most important
\ndevelopments now as singer Inul Daratista, whose \"sensual\"
\nmovements on stage have enraged some ulemas and fellow artists,
\nhas received strong support from various groups.<\/p>\n
Dozens of artists gathered in Central Jakarta on Wednesday to
\nexpress support for the controversial dangdut singer Inul, saying
\nany move to curb freedom of expression should be rejected.<\/p>\n
The gathering at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) came a day after
\nformer president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid made a similar
\nstatement after lunching with Inul.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly reject and condemn any effort to discredit Inul
\nand the artistic expression that she has chosen,\" the artists
\nsaid in a statement read out by playwright and actress Ratna
\nSarumpaet.<\/p>\n
They said that banning Inul and her trademark gyrating hip
\nmovements -- called \"the drilling dance\" -- would set a bad
\nprecedent.<\/p>\n
Among those attending the gathering were film director Jajang
\nC. Noer and respected scholar Tommy F. Awuy. Artists who offered
\nsupport but did not attend included Butet Kertarajasa, Mira
\nLesmana, Putu Wijaya, Gunawan Mohamad and Krisdayanti.<\/p>\n
Further protests in support of Inul are planned, including a
\ngathering by women's rights activists at the Hotel Indonesia
\ntraffic circle on Friday afternoon, when they would perform the
\n\"drilling dance\" for three minutes.<\/p>\n
Dangdut is a local music with strong Indian\/Arabic influence.<\/p>\n
The controversy began earlier this year when the Indonesian
\nCouncil of Ulemas (MUI) banned Inul for breaching ethics and
\nnorms, which they claimed would have a negative impact.<\/p>\n
A number of rapists have claimed they attacked their victims
\nafter watching Inul on television.<\/p>\n
The MUI ban only increased the popularity of the 24-year old
\nfrom Pasuruan, East Java. She appears in print or on television
\non an almost daily basis, and has even appeared in Time magazine
\nand Newsweek.<\/p>\n
She also won the hearts of no less than Taufik Kiemas, the
\nhusband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Jakarta Governor
\nSutiyoso.<\/p>\n
Last week however, Indonesia's dangdut king, Rhoma Irama, said
\nInul and her dirty dancing had tarnished dangdut. Rhoma,
\nsupported by a number of other artists, banned Inul from singing
\ntheir songs.<\/p>\n
Inul apologized to Rhoma, who is also a former Golkar
\nlegislator and a kyai (Muslim cleric) who often sings to spread
\nthe religion, and promised that she would not dance like she used
\nto.<\/p>\n
But after strong public support Inul sought a meeting with Gus
\nDur, a former leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest
\nMuslim organization, who said Rhoma had gone too far and had hurt
\nfreedom of expression and creativity.<\/p>\n
He said only the courts had the right to ban Inul if they
\nruled she had broken the law.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, an influential figure in NU's National Awakening
\nParty (PKB), said the meeting, also involving party deputy
\nchairman Mahfud MD, was not an attempt to recruit Inul for
\npolitical campaigning.<\/p>\n
Political parties commonly use artists during campaigns.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-artists-stand-behind-raunchy-singer-inul-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }