Islamist Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam makes an appearance in Washington DC Rally

Peace Train My A**! -Gadi Adelman

On the National Mall this past Saturday, Comedy Central had their so called non-political event: "The Rally to Restore Sanity" hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

I was amazed to hear on the news that Yusuf Islam was a surprise singer at the event. You know, Yusuf Islam, he was once known as Cat Stevens before he converted to Islam in December 1977.  Personally I could care less what he converted to, I like so many others was just sorry that he had stopped writing and singing.

When I was growing up I loved this guy, he was an amazing singer/song writer. His albums such as "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Teaser and the Firecat" were just some of my favorites.

On February 21, 1989, Yusuf Islam addressed students at Kingston University in London about his conversion to Islam and was asked about the controversy in the Muslim world and the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution. He replied, "He must be killed. The Qur'an makes it clear - if someone defames the prophet, then he must die." {Philadelphia Inquirer, February 24, 1989, p.5A, "Iran: West to blame Islam for forthcoming terrorism"}

[O]n May 22, 1989 he made similar statements on the BBC according to the NY Times.

The musician known as Cat Stevens said in a British television program that rather than go to a demonstration to burn an effigy of the author Salman Rushdie, "I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing." 

But that wasn't enough, oh no, not for Mr. Islam. In 1988 the [Israeli] government claims that he delivered tens of thousands of dollars to Hamas. Two years later, in 1990, he tried to enter again along with his 8-year-old son but was banned from Israel, ABC news reported. 

Then in September, 2004 he was deported from the U.S. after his name turned up on US lists of suspected terrorists.

In 2004 the website Militant Islam Monitor posted an article "Yusuf Islam & The Muslim Council of Britain's terrorism ties - Muslim Aid 'charity' funds Al Qaeda & sent Mujahideen to Bosnia."
 
Funding [Hamas] and having ties to Al Qaeda seems like it would be enough for Yusuf Islam to remain on a "no fly" list. 
 
So, he sang at [Jon Stewart's] "Rally to Restore Sanity." I watch[ed] the beginning of the video [but] turned it off right after he strapped on his guitar, held up both hands in the "V" sign, said "Peace" and started to sing "Peace Train".
 
I guess I have a problem with a Hamas supporter who also backs the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's death, singing a song about "peace".
[Weekly Blitz-Bangladesh]
*