posted September 22, 2004 11:36 AM            

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 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.

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.''

AP-NY-09-22-04 0439EDT

posted September 22, 2004 08:17 PM              

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former pop singer Cat Stevens, a Muslim, was deported to Britain on Wednesday after U.S. officials said his activities could be "linked to terrorism" and his name was put on a U.S. no-fly list.

Homeland Security Department spokesman Dennis Murphy said Islam was "denied admission to the United States on national security grounds" and was expected to be sent back to London on Wednesday.

posted September 23, 2004 11:12 PM            

The incident involving Yusuf Islam, formerly known as singer Cat Stevens, dramatizes a need for changes to tighten the system, said Asa Hutchinson, under secretary for homeland security.

"Right now, under the rules we get the information (about passenger boardings) at Homeland Security, I believe it's 15 minutes after the plane takes off," Hutchinson said.

"There's a gap there, so obviously the rules have to be changed" governing the comparison of passenger names with a watch list of people suspected of terrorist links, Hutchinson acknowledged in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Appearing on NBC's "Today" show, he said, "Someone on the watch list should not be on the airplane flying. The responsibility falls on the airline under our current system."

He said on the rules need to be changed to permit federal authorities to review passenger lists, particularly for international flights, at least an hour before a plane takes off and said U.S. officials will be working with their counterparts internationally to get that done.

His Homeland Security Department had said Wednesday that the incident involving Islam - in which his plane was diverted to Bangor, Maine and he was intercepted by federal agents - demonstrates why the government should take over the screening responsibility from the airlines.

"This is a good example of the need for the government to manage the lists, as recommended in the 9-11 commission report," said Homeland Security spokesman Dennis Murphy.

In July, the Sept. 11 commission issued a report that said airlines can only check names against "no fly" lists - people the government believes "pose a direct threat to aviation."

The government maintains a much larger set of watch lists, but those aren't used because of concerns about sharing information with private companies and foreign countries.

Still, Yusuf's name was on the no-fly list that United Airlines employees were supposed to check.

United spokesman Jeff Green said the airline followed procedures in checking Islam's name, and it wasn't on the list.

"The information did not match," Green said.

Islam returned to London early Thursday. "I'm totally shocked," he said upon arrival at the airport. "Half of me wants to smile, and half of me wants to growl. The whole thing is totally ridiculous. Everybody knows who I am. I am no secret figure. Everybody knows my campaigning for charity, for peace."

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw complained Wednesday to U.S. officials their treatment of Islam, telling Secretary of State Colin Powell "that this action should not have been taken," the Foreign Office confirmed.

United and the U.S. government say they're working together to figure out what happened. It's possible Islam's name was spelled differently on the list, Homeland Security officials conceded.

United's Flight 919 was en route to Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday when U.S. officials reviewing the passenger list discovered Islam was aboard. The aircraft was diverted to Maine's Bangor International Airport, where federal agents met the plane and interviewed Islam.

Under rules imposed following the Sept. 11 attacks, once an international flight is bound for the United States, passenger information is forwarded to U.S. officials. The amount of data varies, but can include name, address, flight details, seat location, form of payment and meal preference.

U.S. authorities use the information to run a more thorough check against government watch lists. That's when authorities discovered that Islam was on the plane.

Unlike airline workers, law enforcement officers are trained to look for names that sound like those on the watch list or are spelled differently than the ones on the watch list, Homeland Security spokesman Garrison Courtney said.

The Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the Homeland Security Department, announced plans Tuesday to take over the task of checking names against watch lists before passengers get on planes. The agency is developing a computerized system that will compare passenger data with the watch lists for domestic flights only.

U.S. authorities provided few details about Islam's alleged connection to terrorism.

Homeland Security spokesman Brian Doyle would only say that the intelligence community has recently obtained information that "further heightens concern" about Islam.

"Yusuf Islam has been placed on the watch lists because of activities that could potentially be related to terrorism," Doyle said. "It's a serious matter."

A second government official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said U.S. authorities think donations from Islam may have ended up helping to fund blind sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, convicted for a plot to bomb New York City landmarks, and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

Islam, 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 hit "Peace Train," to express his opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

He abandoned his music career in the late 1970s after converting to Islam.

While in Washington in May, Islam met with officials of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives "to talk about philanthropic work," according to White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan, who said the meeting occurred before Islam was added to the no-fly list.

09/23/04 08:19 EDT

posted September 24, 2004 09:42 AM              

This is outright religious profiling.
Yusuf has worked tirelessly many years for worldwide children's charities and has put much effort also in speaking out disclaiming violence in the true Muslim faith since Septemeber 11th.
He has traveled to America many times over and even just 2 months ago made a trip here to his record company with no problems. So why this now?

Even just earlier this month he spoke out about the Russian Belsan School tragedy.
Read his words and see what you think:

________________________________

The Beslan Tragedy

September 2004

________________________________

Yusuf Islam speaks out against the horrific Beslan school siege and its brutal ending:

"Nothing is more precious to a parent than the love of their offspring, but for the parents of Beslan we can only share the tears and convey our deepest sympathies, though no words or effort could ever bring those children back into the violent world they so tragically left behind. There is no vocabulary fit to describe the gruesome cruelty of this event; watching helplessly as hundreds of children were mercilessly utilized as negotiating tokens in a political game, which they had absolutely nothing to do with, makes us ponder what kind of inhumane mentality the perpetrators had.

The fact that the hostage takers were reportedly Muslim makes it difficult for some to avoid the conclusion that the religion of Islam must be the cause of this demented act, however, perceptions like that are maintained only if the majority of right minded believers stand back and say and do nothing. In reality, the whole masquerade being played out is purely political without any reference to spiritual truth: one thing is for sure, this action had as much connection with Islam as those innocent children had to do with the ferocious battle for Chechnya.

The religious premise of the oft-repeated accusation disappears when you look closer at the facts: how opposed to the teachings of Islam this kind of act is. Even the most unlearned of Muslims know that the Prophet of Islam was always so merciful to children and their mothers. Once when he visited his daughter whose baby was dying, tears flowed from the eyes of the Prophet. Someone said to him, 'What is this, O Messenger of God?' He said. 'This is Mercy which God has embedded in the hearts of whomever He wished of His slaves. And God does not bestow His Mercy except on the merciful among His slaves.'1

Islam eradicated infanticide which was sometimes performed in ignorant societies. The Qur'an specifically warns the murderers about this on the Day of Judgement, '…and when the girl-child who was buried is asked for what sin she was killed…'2

Even if the torment of the oppressor reaches the unbearable, Muslims are commanded to restrain themselves, '…and do not let your hatred of a people incite you to act unjustly. Be just! That is closer to righteousness, and fear God!'3

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. The concept that Islam allows the taking of one person's life in exchange for another person's sin is absolutely warped, the Qur'an in fact put an end to the concept of sins being passed on from generation to generation, father to son, or from one soul to another. God says, '…And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.'4

Also, 'Whoever takes a life without due justice, it will be as if he has killed the whole of mankind…'5 and, 'Do not take the life which God has made sacred except through (due process of) law.'6

The whole belief system in Islam is based on ultimate responsibility and a final Day of Accounting for every individual soul. People will seek to take shelter behind others on that day but will be left exposed to answer for their own deeds, 'And whoever has done an atom's weight of good shall see it; and whoever has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.'7 There is no collective responsibility in Islam; neither in Natural Justice, another reason why both sides in the political games and conflicts we are witnessing are way beyond the borders of God's sacred law.

The pictures are telling us that what's going on has to stop. Kindness is a sign of true faith and humanity, but there is very little I can see out there; that's why I'm at least trying, in God's name, to work in the field of relief and compassion for the victims of war, and avoiding the rhetoric of revenge and perpetuation of ignorance by trying not to take sides with the unjust - be they 'them or us'."

I was a child
Who ran full of laughter
I was a child who lived for today
My eyes full of sunshine
My heart full of smiles
I was a child for a day

------------------------

1. Sahih Bukhari 7:559
2. Al Takweer (81):8-9
3. Al Ma'idah (5): 8
4. Al An'am (6):164
5. Al Ma'idah (5):32
6. Bani Isra'il (17):33
7. Al Zalzalah (99): 7-8

________________________________

posted September 25, 2004 12:16 PM              

Now, who can say what is in someone's heart and soul but people have motives and whatever is in their heart; they will do what they have to do to let it flourish. So maybe someone will become spiritual and run for public office because they want to make a difference or maybe the ends justify the means and they will lie publicly to gain access to certain areas.

I don't know if any of you have seen footage of Cat Steven in concert from the 60's/70's; but he was raptorous...and the songs that he sang...he renounced that, so obviously there came a big change in him. That change could entail anything, especially since, in my opinion, true art is a holy thing and I guess he no longer thought so (even though "he made a decision to follow a holy path"). What about the intelligence that no one but the government knows about?
Or maybe it is discrimination and things.

posted September 25, 2004 12:40 PM            

Small Kindness (USA)

Friends of Small Kindness gathered in New York and Los Angeles for the official launch of its new charity office in the USA. In Orange County, Los Angeles, where Small Kindness is registered, some two hundred guests, including journalists, eminent business people and friends, attended the launch on 22 May where Yusuf Islam talked and showed a short film highlighting the charity's activities. Attendees were visibly moved by the images of orphans and young victims of war. “Each one of us is a child deep down, and we know what it is like to be hurt,” said the Chairman, Yusuf Islam, “but prolonged hunger for days on end is something few of us have ever experienced.”

Earlier in the week in New York, the Chairman attended a similar event at the Tribeca Film Center which previewed the release of the new Majikat: Earth Tour DVD. Dr. Noel Brown, President of the Friends of the UN, gave a glowing account of Small Kindness' aid work in the Balkans and Iraq. The charity received a number of generous pledges to help fund its work and cover ongoing expenses which, even with a reduced budget, is in the region of $100K a month.

During his time in the U.S., Yusuf Islam visited an Interfaith initiative in Washington as well as the offices of USAID and was able to discuss possible co-operation on future projects.

Majikat is enjoying an unexpected success all over the world, having reached No.1 and No.6 in music DVD charts in Germany and the UK respectively.

The Small Kindness film will shortly be available for viewing online.
http://yusufislam.org.uk/sk/activities_updates.htm

Small Kindness link
http://yusufislam.org.uk/sk/index.htm

posted September 28, 2004 04:46 PM            

In a videotape of the 1998 event obtained by the National Post, Mr. Islam describes Israel as a "so-called new society" created by a "so-called religion" and urges the audience to donate to the Jerusalem Fund for Human Services to "lessen the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine and the Holy Land."

The Jerusalem Fund is one of four "fronts" named in a secret Privy Council Office memo that was sent to Jean Chretien, then prime minister, on May 23, 2000, discussing what it called groups that "have unsavoury links with terrorism.

"In a limited number of cases, fundraising in support of violent foreign struggles takes place in Canada through the cover of ethnic, religious or community-based associations and groups, lobbying and even criminal activity," the report says.

"Front groups operating in Canada include the Jerusalem Fund for Human Services (Hamas Front), the World Tamil Movement (Tamil Tigers Front), the Canadian Kurdish Information Network (Kurdistan Workers Party Front) and the Babbar Khalsa (a Sikh extremist front)."

Hamas, also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, is responsible for most of the suicide bombings against Israelis. Canada has outlawed Hamas under federal anti-terrorism legislation, making it illegal to support the group.

Best known for his hit songs in the 1960s and '70s, when he was known as Cat Stevens, Mr. Islam, 56, a Muslim convert, made headlines last week when his flight from London to Washington was diverted to Maine because his name appeared on a U.S. watch list.

He was expelled from the United States for national security reasons. "Yusuf Islam was placed on the watch list because of activities that could be potentially related to terrorism," a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security told reporters.

The expulsion was criticized by Muslim groups, and Mr. Islam denies any ties to terrorism. "I never knowingly gave any terrorist group money," he said after being deported from Israel in 2000. "I've given to poor people and hospitals. I've helped to buy ambulances in the Holy Land. Obviously quite clear and supportable aims."

But on June 20, 1998, Mr. Islam gave the keynote address at a Jerusalem Fund fundraising dinner held in Toronto. The event was videotaped, and a copy was obtained by the SITE Institute, a U.S. terrorism research organization.

The video opens with a scene of Niagara Falls, overlayed with the Jerusalem Fund logo, which features the al-Aqsa Mosque and the maple leaf. It begins with an unidentified man explaining the activities of the Jerusalem Fund, which he describes as "helping the Muslims in Palestine" by financing hospitals, health clinics, families in need and orphans.

"Palestine is close to the heart of each and every Muslim. What the Muslims of Palestine have been doing for many years now has been that bright light shining, that hope ... that they are still believers that can raise the banner of jihad in the most difficult of circumstances."

Mr. Islam then begins a 45-minute speech in English in which he says it is "intolerable" for Muslims to "stand and watch" the situation in the Middle East. He describes Jerusalem as the centre of a land that is holy because of its connection to Allah.

"So this city which is blessed because of its religious nature. Therefore, what we see today is the result of the departure of religion from this area, of the uprooting of religion. So many of the people of the faith have been exiled from this region, moved on, to make way for what? Strangely and ironically, they moved on in the name of so-called religion, on behalf of ... the Jews.

"Of course, that would explain what is happening. Because the moment that religion and religious virtues disappear, there for sure follows trouble, tyranny, oppression," he says. "So what do we see then today? The concoction of a so-called new society based on an old society."

He says there could be "no redeemer except Allah. No political concept or construct or treaty or agent except the laws of Allah, which he instructed for this world. Jerusalem is that, the symbol of that. Out of the hands of the righteous then it falls into disrepute and blood.

posted September 29, 2004 01:56 AM            

He, himself said there can be no political concept, construct, treaty or agent except allah which is straight Islamic jihadist rhetoric and he was talking about Israel.

posted September 29, 2004 02:34 PM            

I guess that it's Canada's way of telling us that they are getting back at us for having US citizens not go into Toronto over the SARS epidemic!

posted September 29, 2004 03:53 PM            

At it's best, I can only take all this as heresey, but for what this is worth, the withholding of information by the Canadain government over this, until just before the US elections and NOT to prevent 9/11 from happening, is an act of ALLIED TREASON by the Canadain government against the American people!

Thank you JW, for pointing that all out!