Indonesia Rejects Israel Houghton Permission to Perform Over Pro-Zionist Stance

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the government would not permit a planned concert by U.S. musician Israel Houghton and his Israel & New Breed music group in Indonesia. The decision, according to a statement released by the ministry on Monday, October 5, 2026, was related to concerns over the musician’s pro-Zionist stance.

Yusril made the statement after coordinating with several relevant ministries and government agencies regarding the planned "'Til The Whole World Knows Tour 2026". The concert had previously been reported as scheduled to take place in Jakarta on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and had drawn attention and opposition from several segments of society, the statement said.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), a top Indonesian Islamic clerical body, also called on the government and relevant authorities to ensure that the event was not used as a means of propaganda contrary to Indonesia’s position in supporting the Palestinians. "After coordinating and considering domestic security aspects as well as the Indonesian government’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people’s struggle, we believe that any activity that is highly likely to be used to undermine the Palestinian people’s struggle will not be permitted to take place in Indonesia," Yusril said.

The Minister also said that, in considering the planned event, the government had also taken into account public statements previously made by Israel Houghton regarding Israel in October 2023. "We are aware of Israel Houghton’s public statement in October 2023 in which he said 'I stand with Israel' ('Israel' refers to the country). That statement is certainly one of the factors we considered in assessing the sensitivity of this event, particularly in the context of Indonesia’s commitment to the Palestinian people’s struggle," he said.

However, Yusril stressed that the government was not taking issue with Houghton’s background as a Christian musician. "The government is not in a position to assess an individual’s religious beliefs. What concerns the government is ensuring that no activity in Indonesia is used for political propaganda purposes that contradict Indonesia’s foreign policy and the government’s commitment to the Palestinian people’s struggle," Yusril said.

Yusril said the coordinating ministry had coordinated with relevant authorities. Those include the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, the Ministry of Culture, and the Indonesian National Police.

As part of the coordination, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police said the concert would not be permitted, citing public safety and security considerations and the need to prevent unrest. "So, in terms of the event permit, the concert will not receive a permit from the police. The government must certainly take into account the overall situation regarding public safety and security," Yusril said.

Nevertheless, Yusril stressed that, as of Monday, no formal application to hold the concert had been submitted to the police, either by the organizers or the event organizer. "What is also somewhat surprising to me is how tickets have already been sold online when the permit to hold the concert itself has not yet been obtained," Yusril said.

Information about the planned concert has circulated through various promotional channels and ticketing platforms. Promotional material for the "'Til The Whole World Knows Tour 2026" has also circulated on social media.

On immigration, Yusril said Israel Houghton had not yet applied for a visa to enter Indonesia for the concert. “Indeed, he has not submitted a visa application so far. But if an application is submitted for the purpose of holding the concert, we will not issue the visa because the concert itself has not been granted a permit by the police,” Yusril said.

Yusril explained that Israel Houghton and his band also could not use a visa on arrival to enter Indonesia to organize or perform at a music concert. He said the government’s immigration policy would be aligned with the decision regarding the event permit.

"The government respects artistic activities and freedom of expression. However, such freedom must, of course, be exercised while taking into account security, public order, and Indonesia’s national interests," Yusril concluded.