Indonesian Islamic council opposes Andrea Bocelli concert over Israel support

JAKARTA — The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said on Monday that it firmly rejects a planned Andrea Bocelli concert in Indonesia, according to a report by Antara published on 19 October 2026. The council said the singer had shown sympathy for and support of Israel.

Sudarnoto A Hakim, a member of the MUI leadership board, said in Jakarta that the position was in line with the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. He said the country must stand with Palestine and oppose all forms of colonialism, "including the Zionist Israel," according to Antara's translation of his remarks from Indonesian.

The MUI said its review of various sources found strong links between several past Bocelli concerts and support for Israel. It cited a 2010 performance at a Los Angeles event organised by the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) to raise funds for the IDF. The council described the IDF as a force that had carried out genocide and destruction in Gaza. Antara did not independently verify these claims.

The council said Indonesia should not host anyone who sympathises with or supports Zionism, including Bocelli. It said allowing the events would be a serious breach of the constitution. The MUI also urged the government to refuse permission and cancel all plans for the concert.

The MUI asked Bocelli's team and all other parties to respect its decision and not to make counterproductive statements about it. It also called on the government to support growth in the creative economy that is not linked to Israel.

Antara's report does not say who organises the concert, when or where it is scheduled, or whether the government has responded. It also does not say whether Bocelli or his representatives have commented.

Background

The MUI issued Fatwa No. 83 of 2023 on the law on supporting the Palestinian struggle. Sudarnoto said the council's position follows that fatwa.

Bocelli performed at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June 2026, alongside the singer EJAE, according to a photo caption in the Antara report. The report does not link that event to the concert plans in Indonesia.