Christians Protest Madonna Concert for Conflicting With Nazi Victims' Memorial
International pop star Madonna is set to be embroiled in more controversy after a group of young Catholics announced the launch of a petition to cancel a concert of hers in Poland that coincides with a World War II commemoration.
"August 1 is a day of remembrance in Poland. We pay our respects to those who survived and those who perished in the uprising. We won't allow the desecration of our hallowed symbols," the Youth Crusade, as the Christian organization identifies itself, has shared in an online statement.
Madonna's concert is scheduled to take place at Warsaw's new National Stadium, which has a capacity of 70,000 people.
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More than 31,000 people had signed the online petition as of Tuesday, AFP reported, although it is unclear whether the efforts will be enough to force Madonna to postpone her concert in Warsaw.
An estimated 200,000 Poles died in the Polish rebellion against Nazi Germany during WWII, and every year on the Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. sirens wail through the capital, reminding citizens to take a one-minute period of silence in commemoration.
Youth Crusade has also suggested that Madonna's on-stage performances are questionable and can be seen as "attacking the Catholic faith." The pop star often uses Christian imagery in her shows, including crucifixes and burning crosses, mixing them with raunchy performances that often promote homosexuality.
The Polish capital has tried to appease concerns by stating that the show should go on as planned, and that a minute of silence as well as the airing of a WWII-era program exploring the uprising would occur ahead of the concert.
At the same time, Madonna is facing a lawsuit by the far-right National Front group in France, which has accused the singer of showing a Nazi swastika on the forehead of party leader Marine Le Pen during another one of her shows at the Stade de France near Paris last month.
The "MDNA" tour stretches across 30 countries and is scheduled to wrap up in Australia in 2013.
