Islamic militants had managed to strike again, this time in Indonesia denying 50,000 fans the chance to see their favourite pop mega-star. Indonesia’s national police had denied a permit for Lady Gaga to perform in Jakarta after that city’s police had expressed concerns that it would not be able to guarantee security for the sold-out “Born This Way Ball” concert originally scheduled for the 3rd of June. This was after protests coming from various Islamic militant groups erupted in the last several weeks over the “skimpy clothing and suggestive dance moves and lyrics” Lady Gaga planned to exhibit during the concert.
This is a country where Playboy Indonesia publishes but whose editor-in-chief languishes in jail for “publishing pictures of scantily clad women”.
Indonesia is a country of 240 million predominantly moderate Muslims and its overall national character is secular for the most part. However a small vocal community of hardline Islamic fundamentalists have in recent years managed to make a dent on this way of life. The militant Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in this instance had led the campaign to block Lady Gaga’s performance in Jakarta.
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“She’s a vulgar singer who wears only panties and a bra when she sings,” said Habib Salim Alatas, the Jakarta head of the FPI.
Islamic groups have protested against the show He also described her as “dangerous” for Indonesia’s younger generation, and claimed that Lady Gaga had referred to herself as the devil’s messenger.
[Photo courtesy SialTV.com.]
The concert is actually named after the Born This Way Foundation which Lady Gaga founded with her mother Cynthia Germanotta. The non-profit foundation aims to teach anti-bullying and to mentor young people in their efforts to build self-confidence. Lady Gaga has long been an advocate of gay rights and the creation of anti-bullying laws in the United States. The mission statement of of the Born This Way foundation reads:
This way, towards bravery, where youth are empowered. This way, towards a acceptance where humanity is embraced. This way, towards love where individuality is encouraged.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
Writing entertainment, now, are we?
Matagal na… Glitz and Glamour if you haven’t noticed yet… 😉
Ah! So I see! I loved this post man.
I’m surprised the Supreme council of Ayatollahs, I mean the Roman Catholic Church of the Philippines, didn’t ban the Lady Gaga concert scheduled here.
Yet again, the fun of many is ruined by the repressed sex of the few (or maybe they just prefer to watch gyrating sheep).
Gaga writes something else and speaks and does another. She might as well stab you in the back…