OT: Cat Stevens

DannyinJapan

DannyinJapan

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Oct 9, 2003
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Cat Stevens' comments in 1989 concerning Salman Rushdie after the publication of Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses provoked controversy. During this time period an Islamic fatwa (religious ruling) was issued, holding that it was an obligation of Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie. Yusuf Islam publicly stated that Rushdie was indeed guilty of blasphemy against Islam, and Rushdie deserved to be killed. This led to a public outcry, and a drop in record sales. In response to this criticism, Yusuf Islam has since clarified that he believes that a death sentence can only be carried out by the authority of a court in an Islamic society, and that he is opposed to anyone taking the law into their own hands by murdering Rushdie.


Wow! He really is one of them. I think I get the picture now...
 
He took the plane in, but had to take the Peace Train back to wackyland.
Sad. I like the man's music, but his support for the fatwa (and reversal) has made me think his new condemnations of terrorism are suspect. If he truly believes that violence in the name of Islam is an affront to the religion, then more power to him, and I hope he gets the word out.
 
I heard an interview with him about a year ago where they questioned him on that incident and I thought he was kind of wishy washy about it. Meaning he didn't outright say he was wrong. He said something like that he meant the scriptures said that but that in the Old Testament it says certain offenses are to be punished by stoning but we don't do that either. But I remember when he originally said it and I thought he meant it literally.

I don't think he's a threat to the US, and I think that a lot of times people get more mellow religiously as they explore their faiths more so I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt, on the other hand I can see why they didn't let him in too.
 
cat stevens.....or what?
Yusuf Islam ?

don't know these people and don't care. :barf:
 
I've heard his statements supporting the fatwa; I've heard his statements that he was "new to Islam" and "answering reporters the best he could". Whatever. I like his music, but I find I just can't take an interest in what he does today.

I think I'm gonna crank up one of his beautiful and pretentious songs, like O Caritas, or But I Might Die Tonight.

His older music's worth checking out, whatever his political position is now.
 
Grover_Cephas said:
I've heard his statements supporting the fatwa; I've heard his statements that he was "new to Islam" and "answering reporters the best he could". Whatever. I like his music, but I find I just can't take an interest in what he does today.

I think I'm gonna crank up one of his beautiful and pretentious songs, like O Caritas, or But I Might Die Tonight.

His older music's worth checking out, whatever his political position is now.
Click to expand...

Amen. I've been listening to Peace Train a lot lately.
 
cat stevens.....or what?
Yusuf Islam ?

don't know these people and don't care.
---Sams

Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam are the same guy, sams. Cat Stevens did a bunch of mellow easy-listening folky music way before i was born. A lot of his stuff is pretty good. Later, Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name as many people who convert do. If you check out one of the news websites i'm sure you'll find the story where he tried to fly into America this week, but was turned away back to London.

Jake
 
Steely_Gunz said:
...Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name as many people who convert do...
Click to expand...
He is a real rarity - an American who converted to Islam outside of the prison system.
 
Another is Richard Thompson another singer whose spiritual leader forbade him from performing for a while. I think Thompson and his wife are still both Sufi's.
 
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