Cat Stevens wins peace prize

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/11/10/catstevens.peace.ap/

Yusuf Islam, the pop star formerly known as Cat Stevens, has received a peace award from a group of Nobel Prize winners.

In a public ceremony, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and other Nobel Peace Prize winners attending a fifth annual gathering of laureates gave Mr Islam their 2004 Man for Peace award.

The citation commends Mr Islam "for having condemned terrorism" and for contributing to charities that helped victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Earlier this year, Mr Islam was denied entry to the United States on the grounds he was linked to terrorist groups.

Mr Islam says he has received "more apologies than you can count" from Americans embarrassed after their Government deported him.

"So, I'm quite satisfied with the spirit of most people and probably it was a mistake. But let's hope it will be solved soon. The lawyers are looking into it," he said.

United States Homeland Security says he was deported after his name turned up on US "no fly" lists because of activities they say could be potentially linked to terrorism.

The deportation angered Muslims in Britain and the United States.

Mr Islam says the binding powers of religions are essential in a post-9/11 world.

"Probably one of the biggest imperatives at this time would be for a greater understanding of the Islamic faith because of the tensions which have built up over the years due to the absence of any accurate information of where true beliefs unite humanity rather than divide," he said.

"I broke through many barriers in order to get through to Islam, and looking back I can see that there are problems in perception.

"But once you reach the great shores of wisdom there are so many beautiful approaches to the one uniting message of religions, which is peace and loving your brother, who you love as yourself."

Mr Islam, who cut his last pop album in 1978, says he is ready to write more songs to promote peace.

"Music is also a great cure and a great healer and I think the time has come probably to re-invest some more time in exploring my creative ideas and that's what I'm doing right now," he said.

"I've got a little tape recorder in my top pocket and I keep it with me. Ideas are flowing."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200411/s1240799.htm

ROME (Reuters) - Yusuf Islam, the pop star formerly known as Cat Stevens, says he has received "more apologies than you can count" from Americans embarrassed after their government deported him over potential terrorism links.

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday before he received a peace award from a group of Nobel Prize winners, Islam said he would be making more music soon but did not think September's episode would figure in the new songs.

Islam, who changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1970s, was traveling on a commercial plane from London to Washington when it was diverted to Bangor, Maine.

U.S. Homeland Security said he was deported after his name turned up on U.S. "no fly" lists because of activities they said could be potentially linked to terrorism.

"I have got more apologies from Americans since that time than you can count," he said in the interview in a frescoed waiting room of Rome's city hall as Nobel laureates gathered.

"So, I'm quite satisfied with the spirit of most people and probably it was a mistake. But let's hope it will be solved soon. The lawyers are looking into it," he said.

The softly spoken Islam, 57, asked that the interview be interrupted for a moment when former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev entered the room to greet him.

In a public ceremony later, Gorbachev and other Nobel Peace Prize winners attending a fifth annual gathering of laureates gave Islam their 2004 "Man for Peace" award.

More
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=6771307