Protests Erupt Over Andrea Bocelli Concert in Indonesia, 34 Injured
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Clashes erupted in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 3 during protests against a concert by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, resulting in 34 injuries, including 32 police officers. Protesters, spurred by the Indonesian Ulema Council, opposed Bocelli's perceived pro-Israel stances and ties, including past support for the Israeli army and a concert in Tel Aviv. Bocelli had also shown solidarity with former Hamas hostages, including Yaffa Adar and Segev Kalfon. Indonesian authorities attributed the violence to protesters attempting to breach security, not directly to Bocelli's humanitarian gestures.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Thirty-four people were injured in Jakarta protests against Andrea Bocelli's concert on November 3.
- Protesters opposed Andrea Bocelli's ties to Israel and perceived pro-Israel stances.
- The Indonesian Ulema Council called for the cancellation of Bocelli's concerts.
- Bocelli had expressed solidarity with former Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
- Indonesian authorities stated protesters attempted to breach security, leading to clashes.
Thirty-four people were injured, including 32 police officers, one soldier, and one civilian, during clashes in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Tuesday, November 3, surrounding a concert by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Demonstrators opposing Bocelli's performance attempted to breach security at the JI Expo Kemayoran venue. Tensions had been escalating for weeks, with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), a prominent Muslim authority, calling for the cancellation of Bocelli's concerts scheduled for October 31 and November 3. The MUI cited Bocelli's ties to Israel and his perceived pro-Israel stances, including a 2010 fundraiser for the Israeli army and a 2022 concert in Tel Aviv, as reasons for their opposition. Despite these pressures, concert organizers proceeded with the shows.
Bocelli has also expressed solidarity with Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. Notably, he sent a letter of support to former hostage Yaffa Adar, 85 at the time of her abduction, whose family shared that Bocelli's music helped her cope during her captivity in Gaza. In December 2025, Bocelli met with another former Israeli hostage, Segev Kalfon, in Miami, further demonstrating his support for Hamas captivity survivors. These humanitarian gestures are part of a long-standing relationship between the artist and Israel, which has become particularly sensitive amid the Gaza war and pro-Palestinian sentiment in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, which lacks diplomatic ties with Israel.
While Bocelli's connections to Israel were officially cited by opponents seeking to cancel his shows, Indonesian authorities stated that the violence erupted when protesters attempted to force security barriers and threw stones at police. It remains unclear if Bocelli's meetings with former hostages directly triggered the violent confrontations.
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