‘This is about humanity’ — Indonesian Islamic Council wants Bocelli concerts cancelled

Indonesia’s highest Islamic council is demanding the cancellation of two planned Andrea Bocelli concerts, citing his participation in a 2010 Friends of the IDF fundraiser and a 2022 performance in Tel Aviv.

The Indonesian Ulema Council’s foreign relations chairman, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, explains why the organization considers those appearances incompatible with Indonesia’s support for Palestine. A classical music fan himself, Hakim says the objection concerns funding and human rights, rather than Bocelli’s music or religion.