MP says Cat Stevens visashould be denied

Tue 8th Jun, 2010 in Local News

Democratic Labor Party MP Peter Kavanagh has written to Immigration Minister Chris Evans requesting that he deny iconic singer/songwriter Yusuf Islam ( Cat Stevens ) a visa unless he retracts threats of violence against author Salman Rushdie.

In 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for blasphemy in his book The Satanic Verses. Conservative Peter Kavanagh claims, “Although Yusuf now denies supporting attempts to murder Salman Rushdie, he is on record at the time for stating that he wanted to see Mr. Rushdie himself burn, not just an effigy of him, and he would like to have reported Mr. Rushdie’s whereabouts to those who were trying to murder him.”

Cat Stevens changed his name to Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam in 1977. The singer has repeatedly denied supporting the fatwa, stating that he was merely expressing Islamic law and not his own views.

Regardless, Kavanagh vehemently argues that Yusuf should not be allowed into the country ‘’unless he publicly and categorically states that he does not and will not support the murder of any person for the expression of views, no matter how offensive’’.

It is very unlikely that Yusuf’s visa will be denied. He will probably have to sign a values statement confirming his respect to Australian laws, but visa decisions are ultimately a matter of the Department of Immigration, not the minister.

It seemed Yusuf would never return to the stage after auctioning off his guitars and devoting himself entirely to philanthropy within the Muslim community. However, he is scheduled to tour Australia throughout June for the first time in thirty-six years.

The performances will include his biggest hits that his fans have loved for four decades, and his promoter Paul Dainty claims that he sounds “better than ever.”

Yusuf Islam tour:
Thursday 10th June – Challenge Stadium, Perth
Sunday 13th June – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 16th June – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Friday 18th June – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Monday 21st June – Sydney Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 23rd June – Sydney Entertainment Centre
Saturday 26th June – Brisbane Entertainment Centre