(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/reuters/2012-09-30t154753z_1_cbre88t17w800_rtroptp_3_russia-pussyriot-sentence.photoblog600.jpg)Maxim Shemetov / Reuters Members of the female punk band Pussy Riot (from right) Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alyokhina sit in a glass-walled cage after a court hearing in Moscow, Aug. 17.By NBC News and news servicesMOSCOW -- The Russian Orthodox Church on Sunday called for members of the Pussy Riot punk band to repent, on the eve of an appeal court hearing they hope will quash their two-year jail sentences for performing an anti-Kremlin song in Moscow's main cathedral.
Follow @NBCNewsWorld (http://twitter.com/NBCNewsWorld) The three women - who belted out a "punk prayer" criticizing President Vladimir Putin's close ties to the Russian Orthodox Church - were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" by a district court on Aug. 17.
The tough jail sentences they received saw the West sharply criticize Putin and the Kremlin because of doubts over the independence of the judiciary, and global celebrities, including British musician Paul McCartney and U.S. pop singer Madonna, called for leniency for the women.
NBCNews
Religion and politics....who do we believe, even the name of the band is awful.