Music legend Sir Elton John is due to perform a series of concerts in Russia towards the end of this year, but the country's Islamic leader is now urging people to boycott the gigs because of the star's sexuality.

The 'Your Song' icon will play shows in both Moscow and Kazan in early December, but Seidzhagfar Lutfullin, who is a conservative imam from Russia's predominantly Muslim Tartarstan region, has called for the events to be cancelled because he doesn't agree with the singer's openly homosexual lifestyle and believes it will be damaging to Russia. 

Lutfullin described Sir Elton as "the devil's work in the shape of a pederast" and added that he thinks 'promoting sodomy' is a sin: “Sodomy…is what the world famous homosexual Elton John, (sic) who recently wed a man in public, is promoting."

He continued, saying that by encouraging 'sexual delinquency' God might be encouraged to rain destruction down on the region. 

Meanwhile, Cher recently declined an invitation to perform at the 2014 Winter Olympics because of Russia's new anti-gay laws and Lady Gaga has also spoken out in support of the oppressed LGBT community there.