Madonna urged to back gypsy cause
A Jewish and a Hindu leader have called on Madonna to take up the cause of millions of gypsies in Europe after she was booed in Bucharest for criticising discrimination against the group.
In a joint statement Rajan Zed and Rabbi Jonathan Freirich say Madonna would be "effective" in focusing public opinion on discrimination against gypsies, also known as Roma.
They added the "Roma issue should be one of the highest priorities of human rights agenda of Europe".
Madonna was booed by thousands in Bucharest last week after she criticised widespread discrimination against eastern Europe's gypsies during her concert.
Zed is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism and Freirich is a prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California.