Why is singer Cat Stevens AKA "Yusuf Islam" on a national security watch list?

[astro]

Per this story. The article doesn’t say what he did to be denied admittance to the US, or why specifically he is on a national security “Watch List”.

Cat Stevens, on Watch List, Diverts Plane

Yusuf Islam’s Website is here (also linked in the story)

[hajario]

I can make a good guess. In the past he has made Fundamentalist Islamic as well as anti-US Government statements in interviews. For example, he said that the fatwa against Salmon Rushdie was justified under Islamic law because The Prophet was slandered. He was asked straight out if Rushdie deserved death and he wouldn’t give a straight answer. Also, he recently re-released Peace Train as a protest against US policy in Iraq and elsewhere. More than likely he would have stirred up some shit while he was here and the powers that be probably didn’t want a guest like that in the country.

Haj

[Miller]

Because Yusuf Islam is an extremist zealot who believes disagreement with his religious beliefs is adequate reason to murder someone.

From Wikipedia’s entry on author Salman Rushdie, upon whom Ayatollah Khomeini once placed a three million dollar bounty:

But later in 1989, Yusuf Islam said in a British television documentary that he wasn’t against the death sentence in principle: Rather than go to a demonstration where Rushdie would be burned in effigy, “I would have hoped that it’d be the real thing” he said. If Rushdie showed up at his door, he said he “might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like… I’d try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is.” The New York Times reported that he stood by his statements in a subsequent interview.

I don’t like a lot of the measures enacted to “protect” us since 9/11, but if anyone is going to be kept off an airplane because of their religious beliefs, I’m glad it’s Yusuf Islam. Let the fucker walk, for all I care.

Ironically, because of the fatwa (which hasn’t been in effect since '98), Rushdie also cannot fly on commercial airlines.

[Miller]

Sorry, looks like I spoke too soon. Although the Iranian government has pledged not to pursue Khomeini’s original fatwa, a number of other fanatical Islamic groups have instituted their own.

[Eva_Luna]

Y’know, it could have just been a false positive "hit"on the watch list. Happens all the time, especially with common names. I don’t know how common Islam is as a last name, but if Ted Kennedy can end up being denied boarding, nothing surprises me at this point.

[silenus]

He’s on the watch list to make sure he doesn’t record any more of his insipid music!

[BrainGlutton]

@Miller

Because Yusuf Islam is an extremist zealot who believes disagreement with his religious beliefs is adequate reason to murder someone.

He might talk that way, Miller, but I can’t really see him being involved in a terrorist plot.

Maybe this thread should be moved to GD . . .

[ageless6]

I heard that he’s gone to Venice(Italy)to plot with the terrorists,and to support himself while he’s there,he’s found a low profile job making Tea for the TillermEn.

[Ms2001]

@Eva Luna

Y’know, it could have just been a false positive "hit"on the watch list. Happens all the time, especially with common names. I don’t know how common Islam is as a last name, but if Ted Kennedy can end up being denied boarding, nothing surprises me at this point.

Was Ted Kennedy on the list because of a mixed-up name? I thought it was a snub from the administration.

[bibliophage]

Let’s not have a debate in this forum about whether he should or shouldn’t be on the watch list, nor a rant about whether he is or is not a fucker. Let’s stick to the facts of why he is on the list.

bibliophage
moderator GQ

[bibliophage]

From http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/09/22/plane.diverted.stevens/

A government official said Islam was on the watch list because of “known associations and financial support to organizations believed to be aiding terrorism.”

According to U.S. officials, he is an active supporter of Muslim charities.

One administration official said the singer had been in the United States as recently as May, and was a recent addition to the list.

[Rilchiam]

FWIW, he condemned the recent school hostage situation in Russia:

“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.”

[jjimm]

Read what Yusuf Islam said in 1989 about the fatwa:

On 21st February, I was speaking to a group of students at the Kingston Polytechnic, and in response to a question, I simply stated the Islamic ruling on the Rushdie affair. Suddenly. my picture was splashed on the front page of newspapers all over the world next to the headline: ‘Kill Rushdie says Cat Stevens’. It is very sad to see such irresponsibility from the ‘free press’ and I am totally abhorred.

My only crime was, I suppose, in being honest. I stood up and expressed my belief and I am in no way apologizing for it. I expressed the Islamic view based on the Qur’an, the Prophet’s sayings (peace and blessings be upon him) and the rulings of the Caliphs and renowned schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

However, that is not to say I am encouraging people to break the law or take it into their own hands: far from it. Under the Islamic Law, Muslims are bound to keep within the limits of the law of the country in which they live, providing that it does not restrict the freedom to worship and serve God and fulfil their basic religious duties (fard’ayn). One must not forget the ruling in Islam is also very clear about adultery, stealing and murder, but that doesn’t mean that British Muslims will go about lynching and stoning adulterers, theives and murderers. If we can’t get satisfaction within the present limits of the law, like a ban on this blasphemous book, ‘Satanic Verses’ which insults God and His prophets - including those prophets honoured by Christians, Jews as well as Muslims - this does not mean that we should step outside of the law to find redress. No. If Mrs. Thatcher and her Government are unwilling to listen to our pleas, if our demonstrations and peaceful lobbying don’t work, then perhaps the only alternative is for Muslims to get more involved in the political process of this country. It seems to be the only way left for us.

I still don’t agree with his stance, but he was not calling for the murder of Salman Rushdie (though perhaps he would have if Rushdie were fool enough to go to Iran).

[jjimm]

More info from his official website:

Additional information obtained through Reuters clarifies that the name “Usef Islam” is the name on the watch list.

We all know that Yusuf does support many charitable organizations, including Small Kindness, his charity which benefits Muslim orphans in war-torn countries such as Bosnia. However, he does not support terrorism. He has consistently denounced the acts of terrorists as being directly contradictory to the peaceful teachings of Islam, his religion for the past twenty years. Yusuf has donated thousands of dollars to the 9/11 Fund in addition to his many other projects. Any suggestion that he has donated any funds to terrorist organizations is untrue.

I guess he and Kennedy are in good company.

[duffer]

@silenus

He’s on the watch list to make sure he doesn’t record any more of his insipid music!

That would be a valid enough reason.

Just heard on the news it was a mistake. He wasn’t supposed to be on it after all. News just came in, so no cite yet.

[Futile_Gesture]

@hajario

Also, he recently re-released Peace Train as a protest against US policy in Iraq and elsewhere.

@bibliophage

According to U.S. officials, he is an active supporter of Muslim charities.

Are these valid reasons in determining if you’re a terrorist threat now?

[Ms2001]

I wonder how often these “mistakes” happen to less famous people?

[Paul_in_Qatar]

@Futile Gesture

Are these valid reasons in determining if you’re a terrorist threat now?

Well, he has denounced US policy, he has failed to condemn a death sentence against an author. He runs a worldwide Islamic charity. I don’t know if he is a threat, but he bears watching.

It is a shame that the Bad Guys have a way of tainting us all with their brush. Still with the stakes that are involved, better the occasional person is denied access to the US than we have another terrorist attack.

No system is perfect, and perhaps this was a mistake. Still I would prefer a tighter system to a looser one.

[Eva_Luna]

@Mr2001

Was Ted Kennedy on the list because of a mixed-up name? I thought it was a snub from the administration.

IIRC the name on the list was “T. Kennedy.” Not even a full first name.

[Eva_Luna]

@Mr2001

I wonder how often these “mistakes” happen to less famous people?

All the time, and believe me, they aren’t normally resolved nearly this quickly. My office has had a number of clients stuck outside the U.S. for weeks or months on end while they try to prove a negative. More commonly the issue is an outstanding arrest warrant or criminal conviction rather than terrorist behavior.

Eva Luna, U.S. Immigration Paralegal