London, (ANI): American singer/actress Jennifer Lopez has been asked to cancel a concert that she had agreed to stage in Cyprus. Lopez was invited to celebrate her 41st birthday at a luxury resort on the island in return for taking part in a one-off concert.

But the plans have angered the Greek Cypriot community, which launched an online campaign to urge her to cancel the concert, according to the Guardian. Thousands of people signed a petition requesting Lopez to change her plans of performing in the territory that is not officially recognised by the United Nations.

Cyprus was invaded in 1974 by Turkish troops and has since been divided between Greeks in the south and Turks in the north, reports the Telegraph. "It is with dismay and shock that the people of Cyprus and especially the Greek Cypriot women in the Republic of Cyprus and elsewhere in the world heard the news that you intend to attend the inauguration of a hotel in the occupied by Turkey part of our native country," a letter compiled by campaign organisers said.

According to the message carried on the Cyprus Action Network of America, it would be morally outrageous for Lopez to visit nearly four decades after the island was barbarically invaded.