Indonesia bans show by ‘corrupting’ Lady Gaga

Pop star Lady Gaga has had to cancel her sold-out performance in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative MPs, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt young people.

National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar yesterday said that the permit for her 3 June concert on her “Born This Way Ball” tour had been denied.

Indonesia, a nation of 240 million people, has more Muslims than any other. Although it is secular and has a long history of religious tolerance, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

Hard-liners have loudly criticised Lady Gaga, saying the suggestive nature of her show threatened to undermine the country’s moral fibre.

Fan Mariska Renata said by bowing to the wishes of “troublemakers,” authorities only give them more power, adding: “We are mature enough to be able to separate our own moral values from arts and culture.”