MANILA:
Hundreds of protesters marched in the
Philippine capital on Saturday to demand a ban on pop phenomenon Lady Gaga's
upcoming concerts, claiming her lyrics were anti-Christian.
About
50 riot police blocked a major Manila intersection to stop the marchers from
reaching the shopping mall complex where the American singer is due to perform
on May 21-22.
Lady
Gaga has already faced opposition elsewhere on the Asia leg of her tour,
including in Indonesia where police denied her show a permit amid threats from
Islamic hardliners.
The
Philippines is a deeply-religious Catholic majority country and many of the
demonstrators Saturday were from the group Biblemode International, whose
founder said Lady Gaga's lyrics were blasphemous.
Baptist
preacher Benny Abante, a former member of the Philippine parliament said the
song "Judas" mocked Jesus Christ.
"You
can't just say, 'Okay, I'm an artist, I'll make an artistic expression',"
Abante told about 300 fellow protesters.
"You
stomp on our Lord while saying you're a fame hooker, you're a prostitute
wench," he said referring to the lyrics of the song.
In a
statement the group called on Philippine President Benigno Aquino to stop the
concerts "as this is a direct affront to the moral and religious values
that our nation has been known for".
Aquino
spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the national government did not wish to wade
into the issue.
The
city government has already warned Lady Gaga to refrain from nudity, lewd
conduct and blasphemy when her Asian tour reaches the Philippines, and said
inspectors will be at the venue to ensure she does not overstep the mark.
Renen
de Guia, president of the Lady Gaga concert's local promoters Ovation
Productions, said those who have purchased concert tickets were well aware her
performance was all for fun.
"People
have the freedom to express themselves artistically," he said.
"Those
who oppose what Lady Gaga is doing are not being forced to watch the
concert," he had said on ABS-CBN television on Friday.
In
Indonesia, Islamic hardliners said they were ready to die to stop Lady Gaga
from performing in June. And during the star's concert in Seoul in March a
Christian group vowed to take action to stop young people from being
"infected with homosexuality and pornography".
But
Lady Gaga has so far failed to tone down her performances, riding on to the
stage on a mechanical horse, wearing a black bodysuit and an enormous black
metal headpiece.
-
AFP/fa
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