JAKARTA - Pop star Lady Gaga has been refused a permit to perform in the
Indonesian capital next month over security concerns, police said on
Tuesday, after Islamic groups voiced strong objections to her "vulgar"
style.
Three Islamic groups have expressed their opposition to the concert on
June 3, demanding it be stopped, national police spokesman Saud Usman
Nasution said by telephone.
Indonesia, a secular state, has the world's largest population of
Muslims as well as significant minorities of Christians, Buddhists and
Hindus.
"She's a vulgar singer who wears only panties and a bra when she sings
and she stated she is the envoy of the devil's child and that she will
spread satanic teaching," said Salim Alatas, the Jakarta head of
hardline Islamic Defender Front (FPI). "This is dangerous."
More than 30,000 concert tickets from a total of 40,000 tickets had been
sold, said the Jakarta Post newspaper. Tickets ranged in price from
465,000 rupiah ($50.35) to 2.25 million rupiah ($240). ($1 = 9235
rupiah)