Hindu leaders have urged Miley Cyrus to turn her upcoming Gypsy Heart tour into a crusade to shed light on the plight of travellers throughout Europe.
The Climb singer hits the road in South America for the first dates of her world trek later this week (beg25Apr11) and religious leaders in America are asking her not to waste the opportunity of joining the likes of Madonna and urge Europeans to stop discriminating against Roma gypsies.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed tells WENN, "We'd like her to use the tour to spread awareness about the apartheid faced by about 15 million European gypsies."
Zed has been joined by Jewish leader Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, who adds, "Cyrus had stated that Gypsy Heart is not just a tour for her, but a mission to spread love."
Zed says, "It is a good opportunity to show her love for gypsy brothers and sisters who are facing almost total societal exclusion and undeserved maltreatment in Europe.
"We would hope that Miley Cyrus won't stay an apathetic and silent spectator when gypsies are facing blatant injustice and discrimination in Europe.
"The alarming condition of gypsies is a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world as they regularly face social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalisation, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet and unusually high unemployment rates."
Madonna's plea for gypsy tolerance at a 2009 show in Bucharest, Romania was met with boos and jeers.