{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 2041738,
        "msgid": "mui-issues-statement-opposing-andrea-bocelli-concert-in-indonesia-1792198224",
        "date": "2026-10-17 07:26:21",
        "title": "MUI Issues Statement Opposing Andrea Bocelli Concert in Indonesia",
        "author": "Qommarria Rostanti",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called for the cancellation of a planned Andrea Bocelli concert, citing the singer\u2019s past appearance at a fundraiser for the Israel Defence Forces and Indonesia\u2019s constitutional commitment to opposing colonialism. It urged the government to block the event and promote creative industries not affiliated with Israeli Zionism.",
        "content": "<p>JAKARTA \u2014 The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has officially issued a\nstatement declaring that a planned concert in Indonesia by renowned\nItalian singer Andrea Bocelli should be cancelled. MUI said the\nperformance could hurt the feelings of the Palestinian people and\nviolate the mandate of Indonesia\u2019s Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>The statement, numbered Kep-111\/DP-MUI\/X\/2026, was signed in Jakarta\non Monday (13 October 2026) by MUI Secretary-General Buya Amirsyah\nTambunan and MUI Chairman for Foreign Relations and International\nCooperation Prof Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim. MUI said its research and\nexamination of information had found a record of Bocelli expressing\nsupport and sympathy for Israel.<\/p>\n<p>One episode it highlighted was his performance at a Friends of the\nIsrael Defence Forces (FIDF) concert in Los Angeles in 2010, an event\nthat raised funds for the Israeli military (IDF). \u201cIndonesia must not\nbecome a place for anyone who sympathises with or supports Israeli\nZionism, including Andrea Bocelli. Allowing them to hold activities in\nIndonesia would be a serious breach of the constitutional mandate, hurt\nthe Palestinian people, and undermine the interests of the Muslim\ncommunity and the nation,\u201d MUI said in the statement on Friday (16\nOctober 2026).<\/p>\n<p>The opposition is based on the mandate in the preamble to the 1945\nConstitution to abolish all forms of colonialism in the world, and is\nalso in line with MUI Fatwa No.\u00a083 of 2023 on the legal status of\nsupport for the Palestinian struggle. MUI set out four points in its\nstatement. First, it firmly rejects the planned Andrea Bocelli concert\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n<p>Second, MUI urged the government to take decisive action promptly to\nwithhold permission and cancel all plans for the concert. Third, it\nasked the government to remain steadfast and make a serious effort to\nfoster the growth of Indonesia\u2019s creative economy in sectors not\naffiliated with Israeli Zionism, as an expression of national economic\nand cultural sovereignty. Fourth, MUI called on Bocelli and all other\nparties to understand and respect its decision, and urged them not to\nexpress views that would be counterproductive to its position.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mui-issues-statement-opposing-andrea-bocelli-concert-in-indonesia-1792198224",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}