Muslim-majority Malaysia on Tuesday banned Grammy-winning singer Erykah Badu from a scheduled concert after a photo surfaced showing the word “Allah” written in Arabic on her body. did.

The American R&B singer was scheduled to perform in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, but after seeing a publicity photo of Badu with what appeared to be a temporary tattoo of the word Allah on his bare shoulder, some Islamic groups argued that Badu was not a suitable role model for Malaysian youth.

Information Minister Rais Yatim said in a statement that a government committee, including police and Islamic policy officials, recommended banning Badu’s show, saying the body art was “an insult to Islam and a very serious violation.” He said he had decided.

Badu’s photo “raised public criticism that could endanger national security and negatively impact the government’s image,” the statement added.

The 41-year-old Dallas-born singer had already arrived in Malaysia. An Information Ministry official said she could stay as a tourist but would not be allowed to perform because she was not authorized to speak publicly, she said on condition of anonymity.

Razman Razali, managing director of Pineapple Concerts, the show’s Malaysian organizer, said his company hoped the ban would be lifted.

Razman told The Associated Press that Badu is “concerned and disappointed.” She was scheduled to perform in an auditorium that could seat about 3,000 people.

This was the first time that a concert by a Western performer was banned in Malaysia in recent years. Several other stars, including Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne, were told to dress modestly during their performances.

Badu’s photo, which is also posted on her official fan website, gained attention on Monday after it was published in Malaysia’s most widely read English-language daily, The Star.

The paper on Tuesday apologized to Muslims for what it called an “oversight” and said it deeply regretted any offense caused by the “carelessly published” photo. The Interior Ministry summoned The Star’s editor to explain the photo, which prompted some Islamic activists to call for the paper to be suspended.