JAKARTA: Two concerts by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in Indonesia will go ahead as planned, despite calls for their cancellation by the country's influential Muslim clerical body over his past support for Israel.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) demanded on Oct 10 that organisers cancel the performances at the UNESCO-listed Borobudur Temple on Oct 31 and in Jakarta on Nov 3.
The council pointed to Bocelli's participation in a 2010 fundraiser in Los Angeles for the Israel Defense Forces, as well as his 2022 concert in Tel Aviv, as reasons for its objection.
Despite the backlash, concert promoter Shoemaker Live confirmed that both shows would proceed, saying that the decision was made after discussions with government officials and key partners.
