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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Passenger Cat Stevens Gets Plane Diverted
By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A London-to-Washington flight was diverted to Maine when it was discovered that passenger Yusuf Islam — formerly known as singer Cat Stevens — was on a government watch list and barred from entering the country.
United Airlines Flight 919 was en route to Dulles International Airport when the match was made Tuesday between a passenger and a name on the watch list, said Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration.
The plane was met by federal agents at Maine's Bangor International Airport around 3 p.m., Melendez said.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Dennis Murphy identified the passenger as Islam. "He was interviewed and denied admission to the United States on national security grounds," Murphy said.
He said Islam would be put on the first available flight out of the country Wednesday.
Officials had no details about why the peace activist might be considered a risk to the United States. Islam had visited New York in May for a charity event and to promote a DVD of his 1976 MajiKat tour.
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Islam, 56, was identified by the Advanced Passenger Information System, which requires airlines to send passenger information to Customs and Border Protection's National Targeting Center. The Transportation Security Administration then was contacted and requested that the plane land at the nearest airport, that official said.
Melendez said Islam was questioned by FBI (news - web sites) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Another federal official, who is in law enforcement and spoke anonymously because of agency policy, said that after the interview, Customs officials decided to deny Islam entry into the United States.
Flight 919 continued on to Dulles after Islam was removed from the flight.
Islam, who was born Stephen Georgiou, took Cat Stevens as a stage name and had a string of hits in the 1960s and '70s, including "Wild World" and "Morning Has Broken." Last year he released two songs, including a re-recording of his '70s hit "Peace Train," to express his opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites).
He abandoned his music career in the late 1970s and changed his name after being persuaded by orthodox Muslim teachers that his lifestyle was forbidden by Islamic law. He later became a teacher and an advocate for his religion, founding a Muslim school in London in 1983.
Islam founded Islamia Primary school in London in 1983. In 1998, it became the first Muslim school in Britain to receive government support, on the same basis as Christian and other sectarian schools.
A statement posted on a fan-supported Web site where his music is promoted said Islam being on a watch list "is certainly an error."
"It's also a very sad state of affairs when a man best known as a peace loving pop star can be grouped into the same category Osama Bin Laden just because of his chosen faith," the statement said.
Islam drew some negative attention in the late 1980s when he supported the Ayatollah Khomeini's death sentence against Salman Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses." Recently, though, Islam has criticized terrorist acts, including the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the school seizure in Beslan, Russia, earlier this month that left more than 300 dead, nearly half of them children.
In a statement on his Web site, he wrote, "Crimes against innocent bystanders taken hostage in any circumstance have no foundation whatsoever in the life of Islam and the model example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him."
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Islam issued a statement saying: "No right thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action: The Quran equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity." |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Well, this is where your tax dollars are going folks. Hundreds of uninspected freight containers are allowed into our ports every week, but Cat Stevens can't get in.
I saw a recent interview with him where he said that he does not support any kind of terrorism and did not not support the Salman Rushdie death sentence. He seems to be very sincere about his beliefs, and is clearly a peace advocate.
Good thing he was not allowed to get into the country. We wouldn't want anyone advocating peace! Jeesh! |
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin | "Be Afraid, Be very Afraid"
It really is time for a change! |
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin | This will probably get my name on the list if it isn't already. |
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Location: Converse, Texas | I should probably not comment on this... |
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Location: SoCal | I read this story last night, and even tho' I'm very conservative (almost libertarian) I agree with the sentiments of what's been posted. You will note that it was straightened out. Keep in mind that no system is perfect but that it often works well. When Wong and I flew by to Ovation in March, he was searched much more than I. Obviously, the system was working.
As to the borders, I just recently heard that to effectively shut down the borders, we would need a military several times larger than the one we have. Not practical, so other measures are needed, other routes followed.
My wife is a nurse and I'm a p.i. We both know that you do what you can, not necessasarily what you should. |
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Location: Omaha | Unfortunately, what that article FAILED to say is that Islam/Stevens has, in the past, given money to organizations who are sympathetic to the terrorists agenda. He was rightly stopped and questioned based on these facts.
...when you want to know what's REALLY going on, follow the money; our checkbooks say much more about what we believe than our lips do... |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | "Recently, though, Islam has criticized terrorist acts..." Call me a cynic, but could his "recent" conversion back to being a peacenik have something to do with his attempt to re-start his music career? I note he came to the U.S. in part to promote a CD.
For many years he was part of the problem, not part of the solution. I wonder how many minds were poisoned with anti-western venom in that school he started.
I like his music; I don't think I like him. |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | My point is, I really don't think that Cat Stevens was going to come to this country to commit a terrorist act. As far as the money goes, if we really followed the money trail to the terrorists, our "friends" Saudi Arabia would be a parking lot right now. Let's face it, our country puts up with terrorism as long as it benefits us. The U.S. supported Saddam in his war against Iran and supported the Shah of Iran before that. Both of whom were oppressive dictators who tortured and killed their own people. We didn't seem to have a problem with it at the time. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Ay caramba! What a brew:
Politics, terrorism, religion and music.
I have to say though, I really liked his music. |
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Location: south east Michigan | A recent magazine article on "vacation cabin manners" stated that if a guitar is around "friends don't let friends play Moonshadow". |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | But I like Moonshadow!!Actually, not allowing him in is a little extreme.
Especially since he's obviously been here many times before. They may have very well made a mountain out of a mole Hill were Islam/Stevens is concerened. :cool: |
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Location: Upper Left USA | OK, paranoia time.
What did Elvis and Mike Tyson have in common? They followed the will of their Handlers to what ever end.
Although Yusef is as peaceful as a lamb is there a tie in the persons or group that he listens to. I don't mean Islam, I mean the actual group of "Handlers" that he may trust and follow.
Just another view. I am more afraid of a pissed off Postal Worker with a pocket full of sharp number two pencils.
And I love to play Moonshadow to warm up. Good stretch. |
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Location: Tennessee | According to my sources, Yusaf Islam (Cat Stevens) was on the list and denied entry into the US because the government has undeniable evidence that he is a major financial supporter of both Hamas and Al-Qaeda. The government simply does not want him raising money in the US to support his causes. I believe in his heart Yusaf is a peaceful man, but the organizations he supports are anything but. |
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Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | So I guess I can stop waiting for the Cat Stevens signature Ovation guitar to come out any time soon. :D :p |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | Maybe so Paul. But now that you've brought it up Martin will do signature model and have it ready in a coupleof weeks. :rolleyes:
Did I really say that? yep! :D |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Actually I find the funniest part of all this that "Cat Stevens was denied entry to the United States, so they sent him to Maine instead." That's pretty good.
No system is perfect. Do you want to wrongly deny entry to those who are entitled to it, or blindly let in all those who may pose a threat? Tough call. Maybe deep down inside Cat is a true red blooded American peacenik. Or then again, maybe Osama is sitting around the campfire strumming on Cat's old Slothead. |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Steve, will that be the Martin "Jihad" signature model? I now own a Martin, so I probably rate a Martin signature model. After that, they can come out with the Martin "Jake" signature model, named after my Welsh Terrier. |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | Duncan,
Strangely enough martin has done just about everyone. But they have somehow missed cat Stevens adn The Jake model. No wthat we typed it, Engineers have read it and it will evntually happen. Stranger things have come to pass! :eek: |
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Location: SoCal | Just read that due to his associations with various groups, ol' Cat was deported. |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Well, I'm still waiting for the Martin "Charles W. Kaman" signature model... :rolleyes: |
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Location: Upper Left USA | That might come in when their done putting together the Mary K. Letournou model for young hands.
When a Sitcom goes too far you can trasck it at "Jump the Shark". When did the C.F. Martin jump? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Duncan, I'm waiting for that too!
Actually Ovation heard that he was coming and playing a Taylor so they pulled strings and had the kitty tossed out like litter. GFR! |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | When did C.F. Martin "jump the shark"? I dunno - maybe the "Andy Griffith" model? The "Diane Ponzio"? |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by leftovertion:
...when you want to know what's REALLY going on, follow the money; our checkbooks say much more about what we believe than our lips do...
I guess I believe in the mortgage company, the power company, the cell phone company, the local grocer (haha, yeah right...the local chain grocer outlet is more like it) and, uh, PayPal (for those impulse buys) . |
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Cat Stevens
