Miki Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Has the USA totally cracked up?Cat Stevens who turned to Islam in 1977 was refused entry today "on national security grounds" in to the USA. Four years ago he was also stopped from entry in to Israel.Since turning his back on the music industry, he has helped many children, has preached against wars and hatred and denounced the vile creatures that seek to gain something by slaughtering innocents in the name of religion. So why has this most gentle of men been turned away?He is on the list of wanted men by the USA. His recordings were terrific to my mind (we went to a few of his concerts and loved them) so it can't be his music, can it?Possibly it might come down to this, last year he released two songs, including a re-recording of his 1970s hit Peace Train, in opposition to the war in Iraq.Any other reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 He is also one of the influential Moslem voices who have spoken out against terrorism and al-qaida. On the face of it he is EXACTLY the sort of person the US government should be trying to get on-side. This won't have helped their case very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_2 Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 I couldn't believe it either when I saw the news today. Typical american paranoia and yet again, crap intelligence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Or complete lack of intelligence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patmobile Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Agree with all the above - but he does look a bit like the guy who tried to set fire to his explosive shoes on a plane, doesn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Yes, no smoke without fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 Stranger still, just seen that he was actually allowed in to the USA as recently as May this year !So what has changed since then, for him to be banned now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Perhaps the US has just realised that Yousuf Islam is not a WASP name after all.Or possibly it's just a way to pay back the Greeks for disputes over Olympic medals ?John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaacsnana Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Also, why make the plane land in Maine, thereby inconveniencing all the passengers. Couldnt they just wait until it landed in Washington, and turn him back there if they felt they had to. Seems very odd to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 I am so glad that Jack Straw was able to protest to Colin Powell at the UN about this. You could not hope to meet a more gentle and peaceful soul than Steve/Cat/Yusef. And he was the first 'pop' person to be a UN Ambassador - hardly someone on Bin Laden's 'friends and family' list.Just another example of how the US authorities simply don't have a clue. I reckon they are just sucking up to Israel as usual (and I speak as someone with a Jewish grandmother).As for him looking like the 'shoe bomber' - not in my eyes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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