Indonesia: 'Nazi' Music Video Adaptation of We Will Rock You Sinks Prabowo Subianto's Presidential Bid

A music video made in support of a controversial former general's bid for the Indonesian presidency has sparked outrage home and abroad for its Nazi overtones.

The video, supporting the candidacy of Prabowo Subianto, features local rock star Ahmad Dhani and other singers performing an adaptation of We Will Rock You by Queen.

Singing in front of a white background, Dhani sports a fascist-style uniform that many said is a replica of that often worn by Adolf Hitler's right-hand man, SS commander Heinrich Himmler.

Seconds into the video, the singer is seen handling a huge golden Garuda bird, Indonesia's national emblem, which critics say looks a lot like the Nazis' imperial eagle.

The video, named Indonesia Bangkit, or Awakening Indonesia, was uploaded on YouTube as a campaign song for Prabowo, who is facing frontrunner Joko Widodo in the 9 July vote.

It was also posted on Prabowo's Facebook page, where Dhani and the other artists featured in the video were thanked.

Later, Prabowo's spokesman, Tantowi Yahya, said the video was not a product of the presidential campaign team.

Historian Asvi Warman Adam, from the Indonesian Science Institute, said the video tainted Indonesia's state symbol.

"It is clear that Indonesia's Constitution opposes all kinds of fascism as done by Nazis in the past," he said.

Singer and songwriter Anggun said she was "shocked, disappointed and embarassed" by the clip.

"I pray that Indonesia does not descend into fascism," she tweeted.

Queen's lead guitarist, Brian May, added to the controversy saying that the rendition of We Will Rock You was "completely unauthorised".

Prabowo has been accused of human rights abuses in East Timor and of abducting pro-democracy activists in 1998, as the dictatorship of Suharto came to an end.

The ex-army general has also admitted being a supporter of an "authoritarian regime" in Indonesia. In an interview with American journalist Allan Nairn in 2001, he indicated he was willing to be called a "fascist dictator".