In a surprise move, and followup to this previous story HERE, the Indonesian government has decided to reject the appeal from the Indonesia Ulema Council after all, and will allow an Andrea Bocelli concert to go on. Bocelli is an open supporter of Israel, which was a major trigger for the Ulema Council.
In mid-October, Jihad Watch reported: “Indonesia has agreed with its Ulema Council’s demands, and police have pulled the concert permit, but so far Bocelli’s concert is still scheduled in Jordan.” But now, the decision has been reversed, based on what looks to be sound economic reasons.
The Ulema Council’s chair for foreign affairs, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, stated that concert organizers could “hurt the feelings of many Indonesians who strongly support Palestinians.” This isn’t just a statement. It’s a warning. Islamic supremacist leaders often term what’s regarded as an insult to Muslims as “hurtful” to the feelings of Muslims. Attempted violence in response to Bocelli’s concert is a real possibility.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Bocelli’s concert that is planned in Jordan will remain on track, amid calls to boycott it there as well. Since the central cause of the Muslim ummah is the Palestinian cause, sentiments are rising, especially given the fact that Jordan is situated amid the global storm of Middle East politics. The Jordanian Et’harrak anti-normalization group has opposed Bocelli’s concert plans; it urged a boycott and cancellation of Bocelli’s November 27 concert at the Petra Cultural Village.
“Andrea Bocelli concerts in Indonesia to proceed despite opposition from Muslim clerics,” by Niniek Karmini, The Independent, October 27, 2026:
Two upcoming concerts by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in Indonesia will go ahead despite opposition from the country’s top Muslim clerical body over the singer’s past support for Israel, the organizer said Tuesday.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and has long been a strong supporter of Palestinians.
The Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s most influential body of Islamic scholars, demanded on Oct. 10 that organizers cancel Bocelli’s performances at the UNESCO-listed Borobudur Temple on Oct. 31 and in Jakarta on Nov. 3.
The council cited Bocelli’s past support for Israel, including his participation in a 2010 fundraiser in Los Angeles for the Israel Defense Forces and a 2022 concert in Tel Aviv.
Despite the objection, Bocelli’s concert promoter Shoemaker Live said the concerts would take place as planned. It argued that they would support Indonesia’s tourism and culture sectors, and that the decision was made in consultation with government officials and other stakeholders….
mgoldberg says
Boccelli is known for his support of and nurturing of blind children with his foundation. And for some sick Jihadist to actually go after him when he goes to Indonesia or Jordan is not that far afield. G-d protect this fine man and his work. If people were only informed as to how the issue of the arabs in ‘palestine’ is used by Islam everywhere to intimidate others and muslims they might see what tyranny actually looks like. That there is no evidence of any genocide of Gazans but oodles of evidence of muslim ethnic cleansing not merely against Israel but across the globe we might have a better public understanding.
The two threats says
Sanctions should be placed on all OIC countries.