The Justice and Development Party (PJD), has been criticizing Mawazine Festival organizers for booking John, saying the piano pounder promotes homosexuality.

“This singer is famous for his homosexual behavior and for advocating it,” PJD leader Mustapha Ramid said. “We’re a rather open party, but promoting homosexuality is completely unacceptable.”

Expected to draw tens of thousands of fans, John’s planned free concert in the country’s capital city of Rabat is one of several shows by western artists. Other acts scheduled to appear during the festival’s run include Sting, Mika and Santana along with several Arab music stars.

While festival organizers insist they will not bow to PJD’s demands and cancel John’s performance, the artist is the only performer not scheduled to meet with the local press.

The Mawazine Festival enjoys the patronage of the country’s King Mohammed VI and government officials have openly backed the event, saying it promotes cultural diversity and openness.

“We deal with artists and intellectuals for what they do, without taking into account their private life,” Mawazine Festival’s El Hassan Neffali told reporters. “Somebody’s private life is one thing, and their art or creative activities are another.”