No “Peace Train”: Why is America Embracing Extremist Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)?

By Debbie Schlussel
Is a CD recorded by a Muslim extremist the “perfect gift for the music maven”?
Borders thinks so and is marketing “Another Cup,” by Yusuf Islam ne Cat Stevens ne Steven Georgiou, in its glossy “Holiday Guide” magazine insert, urging Americans to buy “Yusuf’s first pop collection since he adopted the Muslim faith in 1977.”
In 2004, Islam was on the “no fly list” and denied entry into the United States, after a plane he was on was forced to make an emergency landing in Maine, due to Islam’s ties to Islamic terrorists. The government reversed that decision and granted Islam a visa to promote his new CD.
And today and tomorrow, Sirius Satellite Radio will devote several hours to broadcasts and an entire channel to interviews and performances by Islam.

Extremist Muslim Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam & His Extremist Muslim Family

The world is littered with former folk singers and pop stars from the ’60s and ’70s who’ve tried to make a comeback. But none has received the endless hype that pop culture outlets are providing to Yusuf Islam.
And none has uttered the extremist views spewed by Islam throughout the years, without apology.
In 1988, he authored the pamphlet “Eyewitness,” in which he claimed:

The Jews seem neither to respect God nor his creation. Their own holy books contain the curse of God brought upon them by their prophets on account of their disobedience to Him and mischief in the earth. We have seen the disrespect for religion displayed by those who consider themselves to be ‘God’s chosen people.’…There will be no justice until all the land is given back to its rightful owners… Only Islam can bring peace back to the Holy Land.

Islam’s description of the Jews makes no specific exemption for Mel Karmazin, the Jewish Sirius Satellite CEO who is providing Islam a forum to promote his CD for the next two days. Attention, Mr. Karmazin . . . .
In 1989, a week after Ayatollah Khomeini issued his fatwa for the murder of “Satanic Verses” author Salman Rushdie, Islam agreed:

He must be killed. The Koran makes it clear: If someone defames the prophet, he must die.

And Islam’s views haven’t changed much. A map of the Middle East currently on his website doesn’t recognize Israel. There is only “Holyland” on his Map of Hate. In 2004, Islam told ABC News’ Elizabeth Vargas that he supports HAMAS.
The entertainment industry wants to shove all of that under the rug. “Enough time has passed since the [Rushdie] fatwa,” says Billboard’s director of charts, Geoff Mayfield. “His faith is established and less of a negative than it might have been earlier.”
But objections to the embrace of Yusuf Islam are not about his “faith”. They are about his extremist statements and actions. A May 2003 expose on Islam in GQ documented his many ties to Osama Bin Laden and HAMAS. The author–Jake Tapper, now with ABC News–detailed Islam’s tight relationship with Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, the leader of the London based Al-Muhajiroun, which is believed to be Al-Qaeda in Britain. Bakri organized the famed London celebration of “The Magnificent 19″ on the 1-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Islam was denied entry into Israel twice because on two previous trips there, he met with senior HAMAS officials and donated money to them, according to Israeli court documents. One of those officials, Sheikh Jamil Hamami, is a key figure in the federal investigation of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which President Bush shut down and designated as a global terrorist entity laundering money to HAMAS.
Now, in an attempt to moderate his image, Islam is pretending these things never happened. And so is the music industry.
“Don’t let me be misunderstood,” Islam told USA Today. That’s also the name of a song he covers on his new CD.
But the problem is that we understand him very, very well. Now, how do we get Billboard Magazine and Sirius to understand?
The man who sang “Peace Train” isn’t so peaceful.

Egads, another RW hitjob on a great person...because he's a Muslim. What a crock of crap from the Ann Coulter wannabe Debbie Schlussel.



"Didn't He Support Hamas?

I have never knowingly supported Hamas or directed money to them; and use my charity worldwide to help victims of war and natural disasters, particularly children and orphans.

Although it has never been officially acknowledged, it has been reported that the reason I was not allowed entry into the USA in September, 2004, was because of reports via Israeli sources that I was a supporter of Hamas. The truth is I never knowingly supported the activities of any organization called Hamas, and would even find it impossible, even today, to say I personally know anyone who claims to be a member of it – let alone when I visited the Holy Land back in the late eighties.

The ‘source’ of the accusation I presume must go back to my second visit to the Holy Land in 1988 as a member of a British Muslim delegation to investigate for ourselves what was being witnessed by the world on TV, and distribute small amounts of charity."

Yusuf Islam

Website where he addresses ALL the BS about him: (see the NEWS/FAQ section)

http://www.yusufislam.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens#Philanthropic_and_humanitarian_awards

"Philanthropic and humanitarian awards

2003 World Award also known as the "World Social Award" for "humanitarian relief work helping children and victims of war".

2004 Man for Peace Award presented by Mikhail Gorbachev for his "dedication to promote peace, the reconciliation of people and to condemn terrorism", the ceremony was held in Rome, Italy and attended by five Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

(2005) Honorary Doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire for services to education and humanitarian relief.[101]

4 January 2007, The Mediterranean Prize for Peace in Naples, Italy. The award was received "as a result of the work he has done to increase peace in the world."[102]

10 July 2007, honorary doctorate (LLD) by the University of Exeter, in recognition of "his humanitarian work and improving understanding between Islamic and Western cultures".[103] The ceremony was attended by esteemed personalities including Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and guitarist Brian May.

6 November 2009, Special Achievement Award of the German Sustainability Award."

I hope he tours the US soon...I'll be there, haven't seen him live since the late 70's. Great seeing him at the rally singing Peace Train, dueling with Ozzy who butted in with Crazy Train then both losing to the Ojay's Love Train.

See why religion needs to be dismantled from the ground up and reorganized?

Honestly, willing, you need to find better reporters. This isn't the first time you've been caught in the fear-mongering of people, and, quite honestly...I doubt it is the last.

I have an idea, how about using your hatred for something that is possibly better? You know, like talking to people about why they vote for who they vote for...or, I don't know, do some research?

why don't you guys quit derailing his posts? Thats all you guys do is whine about everything, you don't like it, go post your own crap...

Well then, quit posting blatant lies. Simple enough, no?

Not difficult to use the internet for the same purpose he uses it to refortify his lies.

Now please, quit whining to me about my whining.

i don't see any proof that anything he posted is a lie... all see is you guys trying to start more crap...your saying it's a lie, either prove it or shut the hell up...

A much expected rebuttal. Anyway, Middle already posted some of Cat Steven's work as a philanthropist. Of course, that is right above if you will just look up a bit.

Now, please, quit whining about me whining.

Willing has shown time and time again that he doesn't like liberals. And he looks for any reason to make them look bad. Pointing that out is not derailing his post. It's pointing out his fear mongering, yet again.

Other people are trying to start more crap? The point of this thread was to stir up trouble.. again. I wonder how you can't see that.

I disagree. Religion needs to be abolished, period.

I had no idea you was a mind reader.
I was surprised to find out Stevens would love to see someone dead. .
It's sickening Stewart would bring in a Muslim extremist to perform at his show.
It did work to restore sanity in DC.

You're predictable, willing. Not hard to figure out.

So, instead of insulting me, show us all where there are lies, please.

I figured as much.
The report is true.

I hate white people.

There's that mongering word again.

Calling you predictable was insulting? Sorry, don't want to hurt your feelings.

You can get all wound up about this if you'd like. I don't agree with what he did in the past. However, the performance he put on this past weekend was nothing but peaceful. You don't have to like it, though.

Leave the personal attacks off of the forums. Debate the topic at hand.

Kim

Debbie Schlussel: Portrait Of A Conservative Nutjob In Heat (Imam Hassan Qazwini Edition)

http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/05/17/debbie-schlussel-portrait-of-a-conservative-nutjob-in-heat-imam-hassan-qazwini-edition/