Lady Gaga cancels Indonesian show over security

Lady Gaga is canceling her sold-out show in Indonesia over security concerns after Muslim hard-liners threatened violence if the pop diva went ahead with her "Born This Way Ball."             

Protesters said Lady Gaga's sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt youth in the world's most populous Muslim country. Police said they'd only issue the required permits if she agreed to tone things down.             

"With threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga's side is calling off the concert," Minola Sebayang, a lawyer for concert promoter Big Daddy, told reporters Sunday.              

"This is not only about Lady Gaga's security, but extends to those who will be watching her."             

Indonesia, a secular nation of 240 million people, is often held up by the U.S. and others in the West as example of how Islam and democracy can coexist.            

Ninety percent of the population is Muslim, but most practice a moderate, tolerant form of the faith.            

A small, extremist fringe, has gotten more vocal  and violent  in recent years, however, sometimes attacking Christians and members of other religious minorities with clubs and machetes.           
They also targeted transvestites, atheists and others considered "blasphemous."          

Jakarta was supposed to be the biggest stop on Lady Gaga's Asian tour, with 52,000 tickets scooped up in just a few days.          

Fans will be fully refunded, said Michael Rusli, head of Big Daddy.              

The Islamic Defenders Front, which threatened to meet Lady Gaga with tens of thousands of angry supporters if she dared step off the plane in the capital of Jakarta, celebrated news of her cancellation.             

"This is a victory for Indonesian Muslims," said Salim Alatas, one of the leaders of the hard-line group. "Thanks to God for protecting us from a kind of devil."     

AP