Ed Sheeran should be banned from performing in Malaysia on his world tour because his pro-LGBT stance would ‘pollute the sanctity’ of Ramadan, country’s Islamic Party declares

Ed Sheeran should be banned from performing in Malaysia during his world tour because of his stance on LGBT rights, the country’s Islamic Party said.

The British singer-songwriter will perform at Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Jalil National Stadium later this month as part of his colossal two-year Mathematics tour.

But on the eve of Ramadan in March, an annual period of holy reflection for Muslims, Malaysia’s opposition party released a statement urging the government to “take a strong stand” against the “sad” decision to allow the event to stand.

The statement from DUPP chief Ahmad Yahaya said the performance would “pollute the sanctity of the month of Ramadan” as the “invited artist (sic) comes from a background of LGBT ideology which is firmly rejected by Malaysia”.

The Muslim-majority country in Southeast Asia was shocked last year when frontman Matt Healy kissed 1975 bandmate Ross MacDonald on stage during a performance last year.

Since then, the DUPP has pushed for tougher restrictions on foreign acts, describing the “indecent scene” as a “disgusting tragedy.”

But the conservative opposition is not enough to deny artists their opinions. Malaysia allowed a Coldplay concert in November despite Muslim outrage over the band’s support of the LGBTQ+ community.

In the statement shared on February 1, the Malaysian Islamic Party called on the government to ban artists who openly support the LGBT community from performing – ahead of Sheeran’s upcoming concert on February 24.

The DUPP argued that allowing such artists into the country would be culturally insensitive at a time when many Muslims fast, study the Quran and abstain from vices to draw closer to God.

By linking Ed Sheeran’s upcoming performance to The 1975’s act last year, which ultimately saw the Good Vibes Festival shut down and the band ordered to pay $2.6 million in damages, the head of the DUPP urged the government to ‘never allow the performance of any pro-LGBT Western artist’. to respect the glory of the month of Ramadan’.

He described Matt Healy’s actions as “insulting” to the country’s “position of rejecting ideology”.

‘Don’t we learn from past mistakes? Are we becoming increasingly insensitive, especially if the performance takes place at a time when Muslims are preparing to usher in Ramadan?’ he said.

Healy was filmed on stage sharing a kiss with his bassist and railing against the Malaysian government in July 2023, sparking outrage among conservative Muslims.

Four months later, the country’s Minister of Communications and Digital responded to the outrage by threatening British band Coldplay with a “kill switch” to cancel their November act if they offended cultural sensitivities.

The ministry has instructed organizers to have a switch to stop performances if performers go off script and say something that deviates from the country’s norms. culture and beliefs.

Minister Fahmi Fadzilit made diplomatic overtures at the time, noting that “the Prime Minister has also said that the band is very supportive of Palestine. So we are positive about the concert.’

Concerns followed protests organized across the country to urge the government to ban Coldplay completely.

Regardless, some 75,000 fans attended the performance, making it the country’s largest concert to date.

Chris Martin, the band’s frontman, does not shy away from using his stage to share personal politics.

During a performance in Tokyo last year, he told his audience:

‘Right now there are so many problems in the world, so many terrible things are happening. Most people on earth are full of love and full of kindness and compassion.

“I don’t want to judge anyone else for being themselves. We don’t believe in oppression, or occupation, terrorism or genocide, none of that.’

‘Wherever you want to send this into the world, you send it. You can send it to Gaza and Israel, you can send it to the West Bank, Azerbaijan, Albania, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Sudan, Elo Congo, your sister, your mother, brother – anyone you think is expressing love Tokyo needs,” he added.

Following the 1975 ban, outspoken singer Matt Healy was quick to respond to conservative critics, writing online: “Okay, why don’t you try not having sex with Ross for 20 years. Not as easy as it seems.’

He also posted a series of throwback photos with MacDonald to suggest a very close relationship between the two of them and poke fun at the ban.

He also shared a video of a speech by author and speaker Christopher Hitchens in the midst of the AIDS crisis, in which he said, “Homosexuality isn’t just a form of sex — it’s a form of love.”

In his pre-kiss speech, Healy said: “I don’t see the point in inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”

He added: “I made a mistake. When we booked shows, I didn’t watch them.’

“Unfortunately you don’t get a whole bunch of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious and that’s not fair to you because you’re not representative of your government because you’re young people and I’m sure many of you are gay, to be progressive and cool.’

Later, he ended the set abruptly, saying, “Okay, we gotta go.” We have just been banned from Kuala Lumpur.”

A source close to the band told MailOnline at the time: ‘Matty has a long track record of being an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and the band wanted to stand up for their LGBTQ+ fans and community.’

The band later canceled two upcoming tour dates in Asia.