Indonesia denies concert permit for Lady Gaga's "Born This Way"

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

Lady Gaga seems to have a "Bad Romance" with some conservative groups in Indonesia, as local police have denied the permit for her sold-out "Born This Way" concert, which is slated to go on June 3.

This was reported by The Jakarta Post, citing Indonesia's national police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar, as quoted by leading Indonesian English-language newspaper The Jakarta Post. 

The Islam Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam or FPI) is one of the groups opposing Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.

The chief of FPI's Jakarta branch, Habib Salim Alatas, told The Jakarta Post last week, "We refuse to have Lady Gaga’s feet touch our land. She’s bringing the faith of Satan to our country and will thus destroy the nation’s morals."

He also said that he would send FPI members to stop Lady Gaga as soon as she arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

Texters have reacted to the FPI's statements via The Jakarta Post.

"Their [FPI's] leaders must know and acknowledge one of democracy’s principles—freedom of expression. If they don’t, then I would suggest that law enforcement officials be brought to a mental institution," said John Berkhmans.

"Lady Gaga, just like me, must be laughing her head off because the FPI is providing her with free marketing and promotion," according to Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke.

"The FPI claims to have been called upon to uphold morality, law and order in society. Well, the Police are certainly failing to meet their responsibilities," said Soebagjo Soetadji. "The FPI’s acts are based on terror and intimidation. As such they are a nuisance to the community."

While the Lady Gaga's racy costumes and provocative performances have raised eyebrows among local Muslim groups, the largest of them, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), disagreed with the police's decision to ban the concert.

NU deputy-secretary-general Muhammad Imdadun Rahmat told The Jakarta Post, "The police should not have gone as far as banning the concert. They should not intervene against the freedom of expression."

He did add, however, that the Indonesian government should recommend that the singer "tone down" her "sexually provocative behavior on-stage" in respect for their host country's culture.

The Jakarta Post was not able to reach "Born This Way" promoter Michael Rusli for a response. Rusli had reportedly sold 52,000 tickets already.

Lady Gaga is supposed to be performing at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

She is set to perform in Manila on Monday and Tuesday next week at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

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