Cat Stevens denied U.S. entry

Category: Life & Society Topics: Celebrities, Homeland Security, Yusuf Islam Views: 13831
13831

U.S. security officials yesterday diverted a Washington-bound United Airlines flight and detained Yusuf Islam, formerly known as the pop singer Cat Stevens, after discovering that he had been allowed to board the plane in London even though he was on the government's no-fly list.

Former pop singer Cat Stevens' original name is Yusuf Islam. He quit entertainment in the late 1970s and founded a Muslim school in London in 1983.

Islam was questioned in Bangor, Maine, by Customs and Border Protection agents. Dennis Murphy, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Islam is scheduled to be deported today on a flight to Europe. "He is being detained on national security grounds," Murphy said. He declined to elaborate.

Islam was denied entry into Israel several years ago out of concerns that his charitable contributions had funded militant groups. He denied knowingly contributing to any such groups.

Homeland Security officials worked with the Federal Aviation Administration yesterday afternoon to order the United flight to land in Bangor, the closest major airport on the East Coast, after learning that Islam was on board the Boeing 747. Islam, whose name is listed as "Usef Islam," is on several government watch lists, including the no-fly list, according to sources familiar with the event. 

While the flight was over the Atlantic, Customs and Border Protection agents were routinely comparing the passenger manifest against the watch lists and realized that Islam was on board, these sources said. Airline agents conduct similar checks before flights depart; it was not clear yesterday why Islam was not flagged before he boarded. 

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Mark Hatfield said his agency made the decision to divert the flight. "We did not want that aircraft to enter the Northeast corridor airspace," which would have taken it over New York and into Washington, Hatfield said. "We got information that led us to make a decision, based on the fact there was a confirmed individual on board." 

United Airlines declined to comment on the incident yesterday but said that its Flight 919 eventually continued to Dulles International Airport yesterday evening.

Islam recorded 12 albums before abandoning his singing career in the late 1980s after he converted to Islam. He drew criticism in the late 1980s after he publicly supported Ayatollah Khomeini's death edict against author Salman Rushdie. After the terrorist attacks in 2001, Islam said he would donate profits from his CD box set to families of the victims of the attacks.


  Category: Life & Society
  Topics: Celebrities, Homeland Security, Yusuf Islam
Views: 13831

Related Suggestions

 
COMMENTS DISCLAIMER & RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
The opinions expressed herein, through this post or comments, contain positions and viewpoints that are not necessarily those of IslamiCity. These are offered as a means for IslamiCity to stimulate dialogue and discussion in our continuing mission of being an educational organization. The IslamiCity site may occasionally contain copyrighted material the use of which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. IslamiCity is making such material available in its effort to advance understanding of humanitarian, education, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and such (and all) material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.


Older Comments:
ASMAA FROM USA said:
Is this democracy?
2004-12-21

GHALIB AL MASHOOR FROM KUWAIT said:
WHY SHOULD WE WANT TO COLLECT CHARITIES INDIVIDUALLY. OF COURSE 2.5% SHOULD BE GIVEN FROM THE TOTAL INCOME EARNED FOR A SINGLE YEAR. HOWEVER, LOOK AT EACH ISLAMIC NATION'S DEPOSITS WITH EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN BANKS. ABOUT 800 BILLION DOLLARS PLACED AS DEPOSITS ONLY BY SOME OF THE GULF COUNTRIES. IF WE TAKE THE PORTION OF 2.5% ALONE 20 BILLION DOLLARS. WHICH FAR ENOUGH TO CONSTRUCT AND TEACH/PREACH AND TO SPREAD ISLAM TO ALL OVER THE WORLD. FOR EXAMPLE, ASK OURSLEVES, HOW MANY PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE BEEN ALLOTTED TO SPREAD CHRISTIANITY AND MISSIONARY WORK BY BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN GOVTS. AND ENTITIES? IS THERE ANY ALLOTTMENT FOR SPREADING ISLAM HELD BY ISLAMIC NATIONS? THEREFORE, WE NEED A LONG VIEW TO COLLECT THESE 20.0 BILLION FROM GULF GOVERNMENTS. WE HAVE TO PROPEGATE OURSELVES TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. THANKS.
2004-10-21

MARK LIMON FROM ENGLISH said:
Further to my previous comments.At last the Islamic community is speaking out against these terrorists who commit heinious crimes in their name.
Long may it continue
Madmax,for some reason I seem to get right up your nose(an english expresson).The world is a diverse place full of contradictions.We are different,different values and different beliefs,with one important exception.We both believe in one god.
Peace be upon you too
2004-10-12

MADMAX FROM MAGHRIB said:
Continued for Mark Limon. . http://islamonline.net/English/News/2004-09/17/article05.shtml, haven't you heard of the Indonesian Sheikh Abu Bakar Bashir who refused to be freed after the hostages captors called upon his release? No you haven't because you chose to have your eyes and ears somewhere else, otherwise you would not be judgmental, and that is my whole point.
Peace (this is not an insult)
2004-10-07

MADMAX FROM MAGHRIB said:
Mark Limon. The screen name: M.A.D (Musulman, Arabe, Democrate) is what I am, first, second and third, in the strict order of these 3 initials, M.A (Maghreb Arabe) is my geographic area, as for the X, it is added just to complete a screen name that I use for some Internet instant messaging and has no meaning, as far as I'm concerned it is completely legal, since "madmax" is not a registered trademark as far as I am aware. As for the movie of that title, I have not seen it, and I couldn't care less, reading the critics about a pointless story was more than enough for me, and is not something I want to waste precious time and few Dirhams on. That's it for this futile subject, because I don't see any dishonesty in using a nickname, a screen name or a pen name, people have been doing that for centuries and were never accused of being dishonest. I feel under no obligation to use my real name in a virtual environment.
2004-10-07

MARK LIMON FROM ENGLAND said:
I havent been on this board for a few days so I have just read mad max,s comments on my posting.Im a bit lost as to what point he is making.Other than to insult me.
What do you mean by "people like myself?? ".
Who are people like myself??,chrisians??,infidels??,or just people who happen to have a different opinion to you madmax.
At least Im honest enough to use my real name and not hide behind a ridiculous characters name while preaching to all and sundry.
Well we are all entitled to our own opinion and freedom of speech,at least in my country we are!!!.
So carry on preaching madmax to whoever wants to listen to you,good name for a film that,"carry on preaching"although the "carry on"films where full of ridiculous characters and thats not you madmax,is it!!!
2004-10-05

YAHYA BERGUM FROM USA said:
Having landed in the United States why then should he board a different flight because he is on the no-fly list? Evidently, special eye wear is required to see how his continued journey (reportedly to a Nashville recording studio) by some other route or mode of transportation would continue to pose a threat to Washington or New York.

Actually, placing the FBI and the CIA at the disposal of various "political concerns" has seemingly done very little to protect Americans either in the homeland or anywhere else. At this point, the "return on investment" to be expected from the Department of Homeland Security would not seem especially promising, either.
2004-09-28

MIKE FROM USA said:
This goes on to prove that the goverment doesnot care who the person is as long as it matches their ill compiled list of names in their database. There has been cases where even congressmen were detained too. But released after they received calls from other congressmen asking for their release. Isnt it weird. What If they had George W Bush on their list, will they detain him too.. Noway. Its selective discrimination... What they did to Yusuf Islam is Wrong. If the name matched, Its ok but after verifying the persons credentials he should have been let go..
2004-09-27

MADMAX FROM MAGHRIB said:
I feel the need to add a brief comment for Mark Limon, I believe brothers Sid and Khalid has responded adequately to your comments, and most of us don't feel the need to elaborate on their responses. I personally find your comments quite nave if not purposely ignorant. As a good Christian I still find a lack of sincerity and honesty in your statements, for you have chosen to ignore other sources of information (beside the normal "news" diet) that a sincere and honest individual would normally be seeking. I personally do not read, watch and listen, and definitely do not rely only on what that our official media serves us for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The only way to avoid indigestion is to meticulously choose yourself what you want to be fed with. We know and we condemn transgression when we learn about it, it is part of our great Religion, you probably know that but again you chose to ignore it. I have tried but ufortunately failed to find excuses for people like yourself that perhaps, it is a lack of awareness, and I could not find any excuses, for you have more than any one else in the world the technological means and "freedom" to access every bit of information there is about our beautiful but troubled planet.
Peace
2004-09-27

DEBBIE KERRICK FROM USA said:
What a sad day for North America to have its stupity appear in such a manner for all the world to see. They say we are the evolved ones superior in every way, how sad it is when our white sheet wearing ways are still alive and well in this current presidential year. For shame, for terrible shame, poor man did not deserve the treatment he got from us so called evolved americans. I say us because we voted these fools in office and we keep these fools in office. And we expect the rest of the world to be as stupid as us???? Sad, sad sad, sad day for the good old US of A.
2004-09-27

FATIMA AWAD FROM USA said:
The accusations against the honorable Yusuf Islam are outrageous and need to be questioned by all Muslims who have benefited from the work of this great Muslim brother who is anything but a terrorist, as the Evil leaders of this unjust country claim.These events prove that ignorant kuffar who are, unfortunately, responsible for protecting our safety in this country, make no distinction between those who are dangerous, and God-fearing Muslims.This latest incident with Yusuf Islam demonstrates clearly that those evil people are not doing their job correctly and that they are in fact only at war with Islam.They are not even interested in what they say they are fighting such as "Terrorism", rather, the wars being fought today are ideological wars aimed at destroying and eradicating the advancement of Muslim countries and their people.These recent events are an example of that.I think that it's about time we Muslims started paying attention to these atrocious attacks on Islam and we should have started right after September 11th, but no, we were too afraid that we would be targeted as "terrorists".Well, our brothers and sisters who have spoken out against terrorism have been targeted anyways, so what have we got to lose.We have lost our dignity as rightous people dominated by a system where only the powerful can survive.However, Despite all these attacks on civil liberties, I still believe this is a land of freedom, but that freedom has to be fought for.The only difference between those races in America that have gained respect and civil rights and Muslim Americans is that they fought hard for thier freedom and we have not even tried. They were willing die to defend their freedom and rights and need for racial equality, while we Muslims are not willing to defend our identity,which is Islam. Or is it?Are we proud to be Muslims? or Are we proud to be Arabs,Pakistanis,Indians,Indonesians,Africans,Europeans,Chinese,Hispanics, who happen to be Muslims.Lets't think about that.
2004-09-26

MAKHI YOUSSEF FROM BELGIUM ANTWERP CITY said:
as salaam alaikum
dear brother yusuf islam.
im a verry big fan of you.
you make songs that touch the haert
dont you worry by a thing
thats why the call them americans hahahha
i hope youl comme some day to belgium beause i wanna hear your dars about islam
best regards your biggest fan of all
makhi youssef
please send me back to [email protected]
asalaam alaikum warahmattulah wa barakatoe
2004-09-26

AHMED ZARROQ FROM USA said:
salam aliukm brother the only thing that i wann say is that as the hadith says( if allha loves his true belivers he will test him)so this is the indications that allha loves u .
your brother ahmed
2004-09-26

YASIN MUHAMMED KNAPP FROM USA said:
Dear brother Yusuf Islam, I am 8 years old and I go to an islamic school in America ,why are they saying you can't come to USA, I wish you would come, I like you very much I will pray to ALLAH that you will come here later, Inshallah....
2004-09-26

SID FROM USA said:
May Allah bless you brother Yusuf. False accusations and defamation are clear motives. You are in our prayers. Keep up the excellent contributions.
2004-09-25

AAAHMED FROM UK said:
First Tariq Ramadan, now Yusuf Islam..I wonder who's next ? Propbably Sheik Qardawi of Al-Azhar. Seems like the only "Muslims" who are allowed to enter and "represent" Islam are so-called progressives, liberals and apostates on Uncle Sam's payroll.
What a shocker.
2004-09-25

NURHAYAT KNAPP FROM USA said:
Dear brother Yusuf Islam we love you...
2004-09-25

IVER HAAS MOHAMMED FROM GERMANY said:
As a new Muslim I appeal to the Muslims holding Mr. Bigley hostage, please in the name of Allah let this person go. Nothing is to be achieved by killing this man, but it gives the enemies of Islam and Muslims another chance to criticize and shame us. We understand your anger at the Americans and the British. The British have an idiot for a PM and the Americans - well even an Mad Deranged Drunk Ape would be a compliment. Americans and their history have shown that they are not a nation who has any dignity, nor do they make a lot of sense and neither can they be trusted. Just like the Israelis they too are famous for murdering, looting and destroying. So why do we want to be like the Americans or the Jews. Let Mr. Bigley go my brothers, in the name of Allah.
2004-09-25

SID FROM USA said:
Muslims Do speak out, Where is the media? Muslims are outraged by those who don't follow the quran and hadith. And defame ISLAM. But how many people watch or hear democracy now. Where is abc, cnn, nbc, and oh my, fox when muslims speak pro-peace, anti-beheading anti-terror.They are there to pick up everything negative, surely. Media manipulation of the dumb average tv worshipping couch potato. Now there are coined terms such as islamic terrorist or jihadist. Talk about a contradiction in words. No one comes by my mosque when we speak. But almost everyday we see so and so give church sermons on tv against islam. No one wants to hear muslims speak, or hear the truth, because more would become muslim. It's free advertising. God forbid any major policy maker become muslim, right?
2004-09-24

SALMA ISMAILI FROM THE NETHERLANDS said:
I wonder if Winnie the poe is also listed on governments lists.
2004-09-24

AZAM FROM USA said:
This was indeed a sad day for America when it stooped down to this level. It also proves how weak Muslim of this country are. The Govt. take apparent arbitary actions without need for any explaination and nothing happens.
2004-09-24

KHALID MAHMOOD FROM UK said:
I just want to respond to comments posted by Mark limon.I totaly agree with you that people who kidnap innocent civilians and torture and murder them are worse than animals and Islam as a religion catgorcally and unequivocally condems such barbaric acts. Muslims all over the world have condemed such acts and in fact have been victims of this carnage themselves. only recently Muslims from Pakistan and turkey were taken hostages and killed by these murderor thugs. how could these people be acting according to Islam which considers killing of one innocent person equall to killing of entire humanity, Islam is a religion of love and mercy and acts of few indviduals can not change that fact. please read following link. http://www.islamonline.net/askaboutislam/display.asp?hquestionID=8343.
However it is important that terrorism is condemed in all its forms shapes and manifestations, whether by individuals, groups or states. You should not forget that muslims have been the biggest victims of terrorism in last few years commited by America and its allies, 30,000 Afghans and at least 11,000 innocent civillian iraqis have perished in the name of liberation and freedom.Their crime? they had nothing to do with taliban , osama bin laden or saddam hussain. has anybody condemnd this terrorism in the west. or are their lives not worth. only last week american bombers killed 5 children and two women in an air strike, I have seen the photos of dismembered bodies of these children. why is this not terrorism? how long we have to accept stupid excuse of collateral damage? already over 40,000 in last three years. If you want to judge muslims and Islam by act of few misguided individuals ,what conclusions do you think we muslims should draw from slaughter of over 40,000 civilians(nearly 13 times more than died on 9/11) vicitims of so called civilised world??? I think every honest and just person of whatever denomination must condenm terrorism in whatever shape and forms
2004-09-24

UMSARAH FROM U.S.A. said:
I am so very sad that Yusuf Islam our great peace maker of present time has been treated so unfairly and unkindly. May Allah The Almighty give him courage and strength to bear this puny act of those who have nothing better to do. I wish him victory in his great causes and that is to help the needy people around the world especially the orphans of war torn countrie.
2004-09-24

MA YUAN FROM CHINA said:
Assalaam alaikum,
I am sorry to hear this. Thouth Brother Yusuf Islam haven't been here in China, but he is already well known and respected among us young Chinese Muslims. How could the US government insult a peace-lover just because he is a Muslim with the word "Islam" in his name? Is this another Hate Crime committed on the part of the US Government?
May Allah's Peace on all of us all the time! Ameen
2004-09-24

MIKE FROM USA said:
I find it ironic that when my country was supporting the mujihideen fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan they were "Freedom Fighters". Now these same people are "Terrorists". In the end my country finds it easy to harass men of peace and ignore the real terrorists such as some of those in Washington DC. Ironic that when Yusuf Islam went to Washington DC not too long ago to speak up for peace?
2004-09-24

YAHYA BERGUM FROM USA said:
I am confused. Am I supposed to be for iViews telling the story? Or am I supposed to be against the reasons why iViews has such a story to tell?

Also, I am not sure how punishing opponents of war protects us from acts of war. As you can see I am easily confused.
2004-09-24

ARSLAN SAEED FROM USA said:
Dear Yusuf,
I am terribly sorry about all this you must be strssed may Allah make it easy for you.
2004-09-23

ARYANI ASTUTI FROM CANADA said:
Dear brother Yusuf, I am so sorry to hear about this. May Allah give us all strength and patience to go through this, ameen.
2004-09-23

MOHAMMED ADJIED GUMAN FROM THE NETHERLAND(HOLLAND) E said:
hierbij wil ik mijn stem geven,ik vind het niet goed wat de amrikaane doen,want ik als moslims man het een baard mag dan niet in amerika komen
en ik ben tegen die oorlog in irak,buch moet naar zijn eigen land kijken en daar de teroristen uitrooien want mijn eigen mensen zijn corupt,
afz.dhr.m.a.guman
van uit the netherland (holland)
amsterdam-zuidoost
[email protected]
all brohters ken contact me
2004-09-23

AHMED ASGHER FROM BAHRAIN said:
America has become fearful of truth. The cult of Zionism also fears truth and prefers to wage wars and create mayhem. It is no wonder that America has painted itself in the colours of Zionism. Its government is infested with neocon Zionists.

There is another entity that fears truth. Satan. For what is the reason to fear a decent, peace-loving and honest man like Islam/Stevens.

All you can do to understand how peaceful this man is, just listen to his old songs. From "Peace Train" to "Morning Has Broken". He was an environmentalist before the word was coined. Listen to his "Where do the Children Play". and the many other beautiful songs he has written.

He had a clean conscience before he became a Muslim. With Islam he has become a truly pious man who never tires to help the helpless and promote the cause of Allah and work for peace. May Allah be pleased with him. Amen.

As for the idiot who states that America has the right to deny entry to anyone, then if you close your house to a decent man yet permit the thugs to enter, then misery be upon your friend and pity is your fate.

Just imagine if others closed their doors on Americans on account of them being American. Is this the sort of world you hope to promote? Americans already fear travelling to more than half the world. Is this what you like to see? They invaded Iraq illegally yet they fear walking the streets of Baghdad for fear of being killed, taken hostage, or beheaded. Is this sort of control by force ok to you?

Remember you reap what you sow. and don't be surprised to get tomatoes if you plant the seeds of tomatoe! It has nothing to do with Islam but everything to do with natural logic, that is God's creation.
2004-09-23

MARK LIMON FROM ENGLAND said:
Once again the americans blunder with their actions and have been loudly and rightly condemned by lots of Christians as well muslims.
Can we now please hear the Muslim world condemn as loudly and scream their outrage just as much about the plight of the survivng british hostage in danger of having his head slowly and barbarically hacked off.
I wont hold my breath because no matter how cruel,inhumane and barbaric some muslims are,other muslims will always try to excuse them and blame others for their unjstified actions.
Please show me in the Koran where it allows this type of behaviour,Islam is a tolerant and Great religion that has been hijacked by cruel,unjust men who dont even deserve to be called animals because animals dont torture each other.
Look how loudly the Chritian world condemned the Americans treatment of their prisoneres,well I dont remember any of them having their head slowly hacked off!!
I dont believe for a moment that the great Prophet ever preached that it is right to cruelly torture anyone.
I now wait for apoligists for these ISLAMIC terrorist (and I put it in capitals because as I have already said that all some muslims need to excuse this behaviour is the fact that it is carried by other muslims)to explain why it is right to torture and kill in the most cruel and inhumane way possible
The Islamic world needs take a long look at itself because with their inaction and mostly silence about Terrorism it seems that most muslims support it.
Once again I challenge any supporters of terrorism to show me where in the Koran it says torture and inhumanity are justified.If it does then Islam is not the Great religion I thought it was.
Can you please indicate what religion you practise if you comment.
I amn a Roman Catholic who believes in one God the Father.
I believe we are all created by the same one God and we all pray to the same one God.
2004-09-23

SURYA DHARMA FROM USA said:
Alhamudulillahi rabb-al-'alamin. Praise be to God the Lord of the Universe.

May God preserve brother Yusuf Islam, raise his stature, and multiply his good deeds.

We are again privy to another classic case of idiocy from a bungling bureaucracy. Is this another intelligence failure? As in: cerebral malfunction. Sure, there are people who will support this latest act of Homeland Security. They put their trust in the President and Tom Ridge to keep them safe from terror. Folks: keep those eyes alert on the color charts!

The rest of us may want to place our trust in God. And keep our common sense intact!

There is good in this incident, inshaAllah. May it raise our awareness, and bring to light the contributions that brother Yusuf Islam has made to this ummah, and to humanity at large. Please look into the charitable foundations that he has established and give them your helping hands. Yusuf Islam was in the US last May to launch Small Kindness USA: http://yusufislam.org.uk/sk/activities_updates.htm

Get the word out: spread small kindnesses wherever you may be. May Allah increase our good deeds. May He strengthen those who strive for His sake.
2004-09-23

MICHAEL CORN FROM UK said:
What a tragic blunder- a typical idiotic American mistake. The Americans could have used Cat Stevens a moderate Muslim, well liked and respected both in the Western and in the Islamic world, as a great Muslim philanthropist and scholar, as a medium to open a dialogue with the Muslims and make amends. Instead they totally rubbished the one truly excellent opportunity they had. Why are Americans so phenomenally dense? The most powerful nation on earth yet utterly clueless. What a shame and what a waste of space Americans are ?
2004-09-23

MADMAX FROM MAGHRIB said:
What's next the Pope? He did speak against the American foreign policy as well didn't he? And so did the whole world. No doubt America IS losing it. They can't stop making fools of themselves and embarrassing their whole nation. What a pity.
2004-09-23

RASHAD ABDUL-AZEEM FROM USA said:
A very sad and dismal state of affairs that this country has reached. President Bush has made this country become so 'inward' and narrow looking that we can't reconize that unless we dialogue with the rest of the world, we will become completed isolated like Israel. A country that is despised the world over.

Yusuf Islam along with Tariq Ramadan are all of us. A strike against them is a strike against the Ummah. However, as much as the enemies of Islam hate to admit it, they are powerless to stop the growth and spread of Islam, because it is Allah's work.

The future is with Islam, in spite of the difficulty faced by ordinary Muslims, the future belongs to us and all Gd fearing right-minded people. The West is a dying society. The aged and ederly populate the West, while the youth make up the majority in Muslim countries.

These policies of are targeted at Muslims to break our spirit and to arrest the religious drive for excellence that is inherent within Muslim America. Allah (swt) has promised victory to the beleivers. We must remain patient and steadfast. Victory is near.
2004-09-23

IMRAN SHAHID FROM USA said:
Assalamualaikum!
Here is a common sense point. UK government is with USA in every front to punish Muslims. They both investigated everyone of their Muslim citizens inside their countries. If Brother Yousuf Islam was involved in any so called "terrorist" activity, they (UK) would have nabbed him by now. They didn't find him guilty of anything but a peace lover. Here in USA we Americans are affraid of true peace that's why we stopped him.
2004-09-23

BROTHER NOORWITHTRUTH FROM CANADA said:
These are some of the sources that say the fight against Terrorism is indeed a fight against Islam, Yusuf Islam simply was treated like one because of his faith. Is time that the reality is grasped by people and see the whole picture, May Allah guide the brother.
Everystruggle is indeed followed by goodtimes. Faith is stronger then Fear.
2004-09-23

T. EMARA FROM US said:
As an American I am embarrassed that this happened. The US government is so screwed up. I have more respect for Yusuf Islam than I do our own president. I am not proud of this country nor its actions. I believe many innocent people will be terrorized by our government while the real terroists keep on doing their thing.
2004-09-23

KIM FROM AUSTRALIA said:
I have to agree with Sister Noor, though - obviously the world is safer when singers and artists are in custody. Let's continue this trend - I say we arrest Britney Spears, for starters, for crimes against humanity.Weapons of Mass Destruction?? Let's try looking in some recording studios, or the bedrooms of 14 year-old girls...
2004-09-23

JIM FROM USA said:
It's a sad day when a voice for peace is treated in such a manner. There is no better person than Yusuf Islam who can bridge the differences between Islam and the West. My humble apologies to him and his family for this treatment.
2004-09-22

ROMESH CHANDER FROM USA said:
US, as a soverign nation, has every right not to admit to US ANYBODY it does not want, even a UK citizen, and without giving any reason. US can deny entry to Fidel Castro (except when he is coming to UN). Pakistan does not require visas for US citizens for short term visits, EXCEPT those US citizens who were formerly citizens of India; see the absurdities in this world.

So, What is this halyballoo about disallowing him to come to US. Muslims, grow up. Don't assume conspiracies everywhere when there is none. Looks like Muslims have become just too damn paranoic.

Here is the real absurdity about Homeland Security. Why plane was diverted to Bangor, Maine is beyond my comprehension?; could the US government not deny him entry at Dulles Airport in Washington?. There are plenty of Immigration / Customs people there. If US government was afraid about Cat Stevens blowing up the plane over US, then why he did not blow it up over Maine, when everybody knew the plane was going to land in US three hours before arrival time at Dulles. Usual paranoia? Usual stupidity? Cost United Airlines lot of money for this unscheduled stop (and United is in bankruptcy).
2004-09-22

KHADIJAH AMATULLAH FROM USA said:
Brother Yayha, Israelis are already condemning pro-Palestinians that live there. Dr. Ilam Pappi, an Israeli professor, has been fighting in his own country to keep his position and job. He is no longer allowed to speak publicly in Palestine/Isreal. Two American Senators were also on the no-fly list. One of them was Sen. Kennedy. The other man started to fly by adding the middle initial of his name. Now he has no problem. So my question is "HOW" is this profiling done. The man is still the same man with still the same birthday and SS#. So what is being profiled here, people or names? Just another piece of window dressing by the Bush administration to make the majority think that the job is being done. Israel looted 3 major banks in Palestine. It is the money of Yusef Islam that they are trying to stop. If the people don't have money they can't eat or protect themselves. By the way, the US is selling israel 55 smart bombs. Pray for our Palestinian Brothers and Sisters.
2004-09-22

SISTER NOOR FROM USA said:
This is one of the more ludicrous examples of "Homeland Security." I can tell you, I really feel more secure now that they have a singer in custody.
May Allah reward this Muslim for his forebearance.
2004-09-22

SALMAN FROM USA said:
this is absolutely unjustified. Ridiculous!!

wa
2004-09-22

SID FROM USA said:
Eye opening to other muslims. Whats he going to do sing? Anyone can get you for anything at anytime. Unfair and alarming.
2004-09-22

SYED S. KHAN FROM USA said:
Shame on the world community. If Israel has someone on a suspected list without any proof, why does USA worry. I thougt Yousuf Islam was coming to USA not going to Isreal.
I strongly condemn this act of our Govt. in the name of Homeland Security.
This is very insulting to Yousuf Islam and millions of Muslims who love him as a decent and honest Muslim.
Shane on our Govt. who I believe is doing all this for political reasons.
A Buddhist monk wrote, "In order to rally people, governments need enemies ... if they do not have a real enemy they will invent one to mobilize us."
This seems to offer a good example.
What we need is not demeaning acts like these but we need a total change in Foreign policy which is based on the Jury system of USA and not on the whims and fancy of the House of Saud or the House of Bush.

Syed Shahnawaz Khan
2004-09-22

HASSAN FROM USA said:
Incredible!!
The once loved "Cat Stevens" is the terrorist "Yusuf Islam"!

2004-09-22

YAHYA BERGUM FROM USA said:
It looks as if an earlier submission in response to "If You Harbor Terrorists" actually belongs here. Peace!

Yusuf Islam (a.k.a. Cat Stevens) has been denied entry into the United States because he is seen as a national security threat. Mark my words - someday Israeli peace activists shall be seen in the same way.
2004-09-22

YASMIN FROM USA said:
OOh My God!
I was really shocked when I read the article on AOL this morning. Yusuf Islam of all people. Who knows, maybe I am on that list too; since it only takes your faith or nationality to be on the FBI V.I.P List.

I wonder if Brother Yusuf Islam knew that he was
on the no-fly list.
2004-09-22