MUI’s Position on the Andrea Bocelli Concert

JAKARTA — The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said it had been following and examining reports about plans to hold an Andrea Bocelli concert in Indonesia. After reviewing various sources, it said it had found what it considered strong evidence linking some of Bocelli’s previous concerts to sympathy and support for Israel.

“One example was his appearance at a 2010 Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) concert in Los Angeles. The event was intended to raise funds for aid to the IDF, the Israeli Zionist force which has long carried out and continues to carry out genocide, destroyed Gaza and committed other international crimes,” said Professor Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, MUI’s chairman for foreign relations and international co-operation, in a statement on the planned concert sent to Republika on Friday (16 October 2026).

Professor Sudarnoto said that, in accordance with the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, Indonesia must remain steadfast in expressing sympathy for and defending Palestine, and in eliminating all forms of colonialism, whoever carries them out, including Israeli Zionism. He said this was also consistent with MUI Fatwa No. 83 of 2023 on the ruling concerning support for the Palestinian struggle.

He therefore warned that Indonesia must not become a venue for anyone who sympathises with or supports Israeli Zionism, including Andrea Bocelli. Allowing such people to hold events in Indonesia, he said, would constitute a serious breach of the constitutional mandate, hurt the Palestinian people, and undermine the welfare of the Muslim community and the nation.

In order to implement MUI’s founding principles as a servant of the community (Khadimul Ummah), a protector of the community (Himayatul Ummah) and a partner of the government (Shadiqul Hukumah), and placing its trust in Allah, MUI set out its position as follows.