Madonna explains use of swastika during MDNA tour

The video image in question has appeared in previous shows of the world tour

Madonna has spoken about an image used during her current MDNA tour which showed a swastika imposed onto the face of a French politician.

The controversial symbol was included in a video accompanying the song Nobody Knows Me, as she performed in Paris.

It showed the face of Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front party, with a swastika on her forehead.

<link> <caption>Interviewed</caption> <url href="http://http://fantastico.globo.com/videos/t/canal-f/v/veja-a-integra-da-entrevista-com-madonna/2056388/" platform="highweb"/> </link> for a Brazilian TV channel, Madonna said all images used were chosen "purposefully".

"That film that was created is about the intolerance that we human beings have for one another and how much we judge people before knowing them," she said.

France's National Front party (FN) said it planned to sue the US singer following the use of the image at her concert in the Stade de France on 14 July.

The video had already appeared earlier in Madonna's 30-nation MDNA world tour, sparking a warning from Ms Le Pen that she was considering legal action.

FN vice-president Florian Philippot said the party could not accept "such an odious comparison".

"Intolerance"

But Madonna refused to edit the video and, speaking before her concert in Brazil, the singer said "all images in the video were chosen purposefully".

"There seems to be a growing intolerance around the world. In Greece, France, everywhere people are trying to kick out all the immigrants, make people cover up and not show what their religious affiliation is.

"Think about what's going on in Russia towards the gay community," she said.

"I'm calling attention to that intolerance and asking people to pay attention, to wake up to see how we are just creating more chaos in the world."

Displaying the swastika image has not been the only controversy on Madonna's MDNA tour.

During her show in Edinburgh on 21 July, the singer defied warnings not to brandish a gun during her performance following the recent shootings at a cinema screening of Batman in Colorado.

Madonna said she believed it is an artist's responsibility to call attention to world events "and to help bring people together".

"Art is there to track what's going on in the world, to make social commentary," she said.