Elton John Morocco show goes ahead despite gay row

An Elton John concert went ahead in Morocco last night despite conservative Islamic politicians complaining that the appearance of such a high-profile gay performer would result in "the spread of un-Islamic values" and risk increasing homosexuality in the country.

Fans sang along to the lyrics - despite few of them knowing English - when the 63-year-old rocker appeared on stage in Rabat, for the nine-day Mawazine music festival.

Elton John's participation has been backed by the government and the royal palace. The arguments against him appearing came mainly from the Islamic Justice and Development Party (PJD).

Mustapha Ramid, a party spokesman, told reporters before the concert that homosexuality was against Muslim values, and he feared the British singer would "encourage the phenomenon" and be a bad influence on Moroccan youth.

"This singer is famous for his homosexual behavior and for advocating it, " said Ramid. "We're a rather open party, but promoting homosexuality is completely unacceptable."

The party's stance is at odds with the country's reputation as a favourite destination for western gay men.

A self-proclaimed gay Moroccan attending the concert said: "Why do people think that seeing gay people or lesbians is going to make people become gay? It isn't as if we got to choose this way."

Last word goes to a straight Moroccan, Said Chakhal, who attended the concert. Chakhal was quoted by the Egyptian news site Bikya Masr as saying: "I don't know anything about gays and that, but what I do know is that we love Elton John."

Chakhal said conservative Islamists were trying to take on a moral role that most Moroccans don't want anything to do with. "We have seen what these conservatives have tried to do, here and elsewhere across the Arab world. We have our own parents already," he concluded, "we don't need more." ·