Protests Erupt in Indonesia Over Coldplay Concert

Hundreds of furious conservative Muslims in Indonesia gathered Wednesday to protest Coldplay's first concert in the country over the band's support for the LGBTQ+ community.

More than 200 people, allegedly organized by the Islamist group 212 Brotherhood Alumni, demonstrated outside of Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno stadium as the band performed as part of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour on Thursday.

According to The Independent, protesters held signs that said: “Reject, cancel and disband Coldplay concerts," as they clashed with police officials.

Coldplay leader singer Chris Martin often wears rainbow colors and waves pride flags during the band's stadium shows, and has said he considers himself an "alltheist—God is everywhere and everyone."

According to the Associated Press, the protesters called Martin's views a threat to "Indonesia's moral fiber.”

In Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation, homosexuality is considered a taboo topic, though it is not outlawed.

“Coldplay has long been a strong supporter of LGBT and its lead singer is an atheist,” Novel Bamukmin, a protest coordinator, said in a speech. "We must reject their campaign, their concert here.”

Per ABC News, the Indonesian Ulema Council reportedly asked the show's promoters to guarantee the band would not advocate for the LGBTQ+ community or have any gay-themed messaging.

Despite the clashes, Coldplay is popular in the country of 280 million. The band sold more than 70,000 tickets to Thursday's show in less than two hours when sales opened in May.

Protests began last Friday with the same protest group also staging demonstrations at several locations in Jakarta, including the British Embassy.

While the band has not commented on the protests, it posted several video clips from the Jakarta show, calling it "one of the best nights ever" and telling its many Indonesian fans: "We'll be back."