What is the real story about Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam) allegedly speaking out in favor, sighting the Koran, of the killing of “Satanic Verses” author Salman Rushdie in the late 1980s? A Google search, mysteriously, does not turn up much. I visited Cat/Yusuf’s web site, and while he denies the accusation, his explanation is so filled with doublespeak, I have to conclude he is–at a minimum–fibbing at least a little bit. Did the onetime singer of “Peace Train” take a transfer to a more menacing ride?
Wikipedia has some information on the Satanic Verses affair. Check out the article on Salman Rushdie and Yusuf Islam.
UnuMondo
I’ve seen a couple of recent interviews (i.e. in the last 10 years) and he simply will not provide a straight answer to the question.
Haj
I think at this point it’s pretty clear that islam did make the statement but that he regrets and is embarassed about it now and that’s why he tries to shadowbox around the subject when it’s broached.
–Cliffy