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Cat Stevens wins peace prize
ROME, Italy (AP) -- The singer once known as Cat Stevens -- branded by the United States as a potential terrorist risk -- has been awarded a peace prize in Rome for his humanitarian work.
Mikhail Gorbachev presented Yusuf Islam with the "Man for Peace" award at the opening of a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Mikhail Gorbachev presented Yusuf Islam with the "Man for Peace" award at the opening of a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
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
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
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Two British newspapers are to pay unspecified damages to singer Yusuf Islam – earlier known as Cat Stevens – over articles linking him to terrorists.
Islam on Tuesday said The Sunday Times and The Sun had promised not to repeat the allegation and agreed to pay his legal costs and “substantial damages.”
“It seems to be the easiest thing in the world these days to make scurrilous accusations against Muslims, and in my case it directly impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist,” he said.
“The harm done is often difficult to repair. However, I am delighted by the settlement, which helps vindicate my character and good name.”
Confirmation
The Sunday Times and The Sun both confirmed they were making payments to Islam but declined to specify the amounts.
"There is an agreed settlement," said Richard Caseby, managing editor of The Sunday Times. "The Sunday Times always denied liability and we disagreed with Cat Stevens' lawyers interpretation of the article, but we took a pragmatic view of the case."
Janet Anderson, a spokeswoman for The Sun, said Islam's statement was correct but declined to comment further.
The stories appeared in the newspapers in October. The Sunday Times ran a correction in November saying it had not intended to suggest Islam supported terrorism.
"We wish to make it clear that he is not and never has been involved in any such activities and we accept that he abhors all forms of terrorism," it said.
The Sun also ran a correction.
Islam was removed from a London-to-Washington flight in September because American officials suspected him of links to terrorists, a charge he vehemently denies.
He said the US government has still not told him what the accusation was based on.
Islam said he planned to use the money from the newspapers for aid projects he started to help children orphaned by the tsunami in Asia.
Agencies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/76A94BDF-0922-4FB8-8278-0C1E79BB69FD.htm
Islam on Tuesday said The Sunday Times and The Sun had promised not to repeat the allegation and agreed to pay his legal costs and “substantial damages.”
“It seems to be the easiest thing in the world these days to make scurrilous accusations against Muslims, and in my case it directly impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist,” he said.
“The harm done is often difficult to repair. However, I am delighted by the settlement, which helps vindicate my character and good name.”
Confirmation
The Sunday Times and The Sun both confirmed they were making payments to Islam but declined to specify the amounts.
"There is an agreed settlement," said Richard Caseby, managing editor of The Sunday Times. "The Sunday Times always denied liability and we disagreed with Cat Stevens' lawyers interpretation of the article, but we took a pragmatic view of the case."
Janet Anderson, a spokeswoman for The Sun, said Islam's statement was correct but declined to comment further.
The stories appeared in the newspapers in October. The Sunday Times ran a correction in November saying it had not intended to suggest Islam supported terrorism.
"We wish to make it clear that he is not and never has been involved in any such activities and we accept that he abhors all forms of terrorism," it said.
The Sun also ran a correction.
Islam was removed from a London-to-Washington flight in September because American officials suspected him of links to terrorists, a charge he vehemently denies.
He said the US government has still not told him what the accusation was based on.
Islam said he planned to use the money from the newspapers for aid projects he started to help children orphaned by the tsunami in Asia.
Agencies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/76A94BDF-0922-4FB8-8278-0C1E79BB69FD.htm
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