If you were a famous Muslim, and you were being honored in a Western country for building bridges between Islam and the rest of the world, would you insult your hosts by refusing to speak to or even acknowledge the presence of uncovered women?
Well, actually, if you were a Muslim, you very well might since your idea of building bridges with the non-Islamic world would probably mean that it should bend over backwards to accommodate your medieval fanaticism while you do absolutely nothing to reciprocate its tolerance. You might even have one of your handlers explain it this way:
“Mr. Islam doesn’t speak with women except his wife. Least of all if they don’t wear a headscarf. Things like that only happen via an intermediary.”
Well, sure, okay, sorry, we certainly didn’t mean to offend Mr. Islam and the next time we award him with a special prize for his magnanimous work in human relations, we’ll try to be more sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of his exalted religious faith.
So just who in the hell is this Mr. Islam big shot? That would be Yusuf Islam. Not ringing any bells? Well then, how about Steven Demetre Georgiou, the name he was born to? Nope, didn’t think so. Then try this: Cat Stevens. That’s right, the former pop star who found religion — only, it was the wrong one in the opinion of many.
The artist formerly known as Cat was being honored with a special prize at the Echo Awards in Germany recently for his “musical, social and political work and was praised as a bridge-builder between the West and the Islamic world.” That’s when everyone suddenly found out that the great humanitarian doesn’t do women — er, that is, he doesn’t acknowledge the presence of women who aren’t properly covered as specifically prescribed by the holy and infallible Qur’an.
If that’s building bridges, then I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell you, cheap.
Look, this silly little incident isn’t exactly the end of the world, but it’s just such a perfect illustration of Islam’s aversion to compromise and its ability to turn otherwise rational beings into blithering idiots. Those of us who don’t suffer from this mental disorder have to marvel at the labyrinth of exquisitely intricate rationalizations the human mind must concoct in order to justify Islam’s medieval treatment of women in this, the 21st century (not to mention all of Islam’s other outrages and absurdities).
Of course, this incident is nothing compared to the hot water he got himself into over the Salman Rushdie affair. As you will recall, Salman Rushdie is the author of “The Satanic Verses,” a book that came out in 1989 and was considered “blasphemous against Islam” by Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. In fact, the Ayatollah’s turban became so unraveled over the book that he issued a death sentence on Rushdie which was to be carried out by anybody that could get to him. (Nobody ever did).
So, when asked back in 1989 what he thought about the fatwa calling for Rushdie’s execution, Cat basically said that (and I’m paraphrasing here), well, hey, guys, you know, the Qur’an does say quite specifically that blasphemy is a capital offense, so I can’t exactly stand up here and dispute the word of the world’s most perfect book.
Or weasel words to that effect.
It’s bizarre what a dose of Islam can do to a human’s ability to think rationally, especially those converts like Cat Stevens who were born and raised in the Western world and had been the fortunate recipients of its prosperity, tolerance and enlightened ways. Why would any Westerner willingly adopt a religion which keeps the vast majority of its followers and a huge swath of the planet hopelessly mired in ignorance, backwardness and poverty?
Anyway, if the former pop star is going to be touring around accepting honors and building bridges between Islam and the rest of the world, would it kill the guy to show just a modicum of respect to his hosts and treat the women he unavoidably comes in contact with as if their status was at least equal to that of a dog? Doesn’t seem like too much to ask, but you know Islam. It’s Muhammad’s way or the highway and if you’ve got a problem with that, you‘re the one that needs to deal with it.
Greg Strange provides conservative commentary with plenty of acerbic wit on the people, politics, events and absurdities of our time. See more at his website: http://www.greg-strange.com/
16 users commented in " Yusuf Islam Refuses to Speak to Uncovered Women At Echo Awards in Berlin "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI sympathize with your comments more than your callous delivery and would have appreciated them even more had you addressed a broader dissertation on the debilitating affects of all religious rational, rituals and constant demonization of “others”. By not mentioning your own faith I would suggest you may be in that trap yourself, certainly sounds holier than thou for sure, but you made your point.
This is just not true. I know of women who are not Muslim who have met Yusuf Islam and they had photos taken with him, he shook hands with them, he introduced them to his lovely family, he discussed his music with them, and he was very friendly as was his family. These women did not wear a headscarf. I know other women who have met him as far back as February 2001 and it was the same. He was very friendly and accomadating with photos, etc. If you will look on youtube you will see a video of Yusuf being presented with the ECHO award and when he gets up from his seat to go onstage to accept the award he shakes both men and women’s hands as he walks along.
The link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bCK5Iwp5SJY
This story has been blowing about the blogosphere for a few days now. But personally, I wonder about it’s veracity. I was in London in early March and had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Islam along with his lovely wife, charming son and wonderful brother. I was one of four women in our group – none of us are family members, nor were we veiled as none of us are Muslim. Mr. Islam spoke openly and directly with all of us, shaking our hands, introducing us to his family, and posing for for photographs. How very unenlightened of him, eh?
What nonsense, you only have to go onto his fan site and look at the thread of him meeting with fans at the Porchester Hall BBC gig to see that this is all nonsense…have a look at the photos there…but i guess the truth isn’t actually what we are trying to achieve here is it…perhaps just another cheap swipe at Cat for choosing a religion that wasn’t on your list of favourites…
A bit Islamophobic, no? The fact that Cat Stevens is (purportedly, although there are account here to suggest otherwise) a giant dickhead, that doesn’t mean that the Muslim religion is to blame. The pope refuses to advocate the use of condoms to prevent AIDS. You want to talk about medieval conditions: Yusuf won’t talk to uncovered women; Benedict is letting a continent die for his ideology.
Point being that no one member (not even a prominent one) can justify painting an entire culture with the same brush. Fighting ignorance with more ignorance is surely not the measured response needed to overcome these kinds of bigotry.
The point being, that the whole story is a fabrication, and no way would Yusuf REFUSE to speak to anyone, he is to much of a Gentleman!!!
Fabricating quotes, spreading rumours, unfounded character assassination … not a veil-ly bright idea is it? But it seems to have become something of a vocation for certain sections of the German press after the ECHO awards in Berlin; at which Yusuf Islam was presented with a lifetime achievement award. The publication in question, “BZ”, which after this episode the proprietors might consider renaming “BS”, quoted Yusuf’s manager as having said:
“Mr Islam doesn’t speak with women except his wife. Least of all if they don’t wear a headscarf. Things like that only happen via an intermediary.”
“Except his wife” say BZ – extraordinary. Quite how Mr. Islam manages communication with his daughters is probably a moot point amongst the editors of BZ then. Smoke signal?…
Here is an excerpt from a press release issued by Yusuf Islam’s manager, putting a pin in this bubble of lies:
“The accusation that Yusuf doesn’t speak or interact with women who are not veiled is an absurdity. He plainly has no issues with working or interacting with women and did so in a perfectly normal manner over the weekend, even signing autographs and posing for photographs with many of the legion of men and women who had queued for hours at both the Airport and Hotel. On Sunday he was interviewed by Women radio and TV presenters without issue. In his normal daily life women feature amongst some of the most influential people in his core team, including the joint President of US record label: Atlantic records, the marketing directors of both Polydor and Atlantic records, his set designer, his TV promotions manager and his video commissioner, all of whom are in almost daily contact with Yusuf.”
Attempts to disparage the good name of Yusuf have been many, though almost all have been of better quality. The point of concern, however, lies in the fact that such a poor, baseless, shoddily formulated rumour should spread so rapidly across the internet. We all know the net to be an information free for all – but more reputable websites such as that of Scottish newspaper the Daily Record should be especially ashamed of themselves for having not checked their sources before publishing such twaddle.
But, let’s see if they’ll be as quick to print an apology as they would be to publish any sensationalist drivel that falls into their hands.
Yusuf Islam’s manager Marc Marot has refuted allegations that his client refused to speak to non-veiled women at the Echo Awards in Germany on Sunday night. He describes the allegations surfacing on the internet as ‘baseless and stupid’ – especially as millions of people have seen Yusuf being interviewed by Women on television during the course of the last decade including ABC’s Elizabeth Vargas for 20/20 vision.
On Sunday evening Yusuf Islam was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award at the German ‘Echo’ awards for his ‘lifework as a musician and as an ambassador between the cultures’ at the ceremony which was recorded in Berlin and broadcast on RTL that evening. He also performed his single ‘Maybe There Is A World’.
Marot says “The accusation that Yusuf doesn’t speak or interact with women who are not veiled is an absurdity. He plainly has no issues with working and interacting with women and did so in a perfectly normal manner over the weekend, even signing autographs and posing for photographs with many of the legion of men and women who had queued for hours at both the Airport and Hotel. On Sunday he was interviewed by Women radio and TV presenters without issue. In his normal daily life women feature amongst some of the most influential people in his core team, including the joint President of US record label: Atlantic records, the marketing directors of both Polydor and Atlantic records, his set designer, his TV promotions manager and his video commissioner, all of whom are in almost daily contact with Yusuf. At the moment he’s in a London edit suite with BBC TV director Janet fraser Crook and producer Serena Cross working on the edit of the BBC Sessions concert recently shot in London. These are not the actions of a misogynist.”
It would seem that certain sections of the media feel that for every good news story featuring a Moslem, a balancing bad news story must be invented to maintain the level of ignorance that surrounds the Islamic faith”.
This is a false islamophobic news. I have seen him talking, shaking hands with half naked stars on a celebrity show in Germany two months or so ago.
Ok, here is the proof against the terrible lies this article has put out. Just a simple minded article about the writers hate towards Muslims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jfm8hV2-zU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuSlRMpvftk
This is an unfair article – Yusuf Islam is one of the moderates.
Islamaphobic? Being a recent recipient of this archaic doctrine, I can attest to the truth of this with some of their believers.
I was wearing a bicycle helmet (head covered), and politely asked directions. This very polite gentleman bowed his head and frantically began mumbling from some religious tome. My male biking buddy asked him the same thing and was the recipient of a perfectly normal answer. Everytime I interjected a comment or question and finally a, heaven forbid, thank you—his head went down in a frantic effort to absolve himself of a perceived sin.
I am in awe of how he manages to survive in our immorally loose western world.
Sue
First Peace be upon you
Sir I have red what you have written in your article and through my reading I noticed some thing that you judged on the situation with out getting and checking with the person you judged why he did this action because as you were talking we have to build bridges between cultures and I am asking you why you personally didn’t take the initiative with the bridge you are talking about because to respect a person who said I refuse to have this conversation with you because of any reason you would have respected this person’s requirements and by this I mean if it’s against his faith why don’t you respect his views.
Adding to my previous comment Mr. Islam couldn’t talk with this host because it would has been a sin in Muslims religion so he decided to obey his faith have you looked at it from this perception there are many websites explains what are the sins in Islam and I think it would be beneficial for you to check them first so you would understand his action with out judging on the other party before listening to his side of the story I think this will be real bridge building.
As a Muslim man, if he did stay away from uncovered women it was more likely out of modesty and respect for those women, his wife, himself and his belief in what Allah has prescribed as proper conduct.
Please consider an alternative view, as you do not have the right to claim to see into the minds and hearts (intentions) of others. Perhaps you could give people the benefit of the doubt they they are good and do not mean any harm.
Peace
FABRICATED STORY ABOUT MR. ISLAM (CAT STEVEN)WHO IS LIVING HIS PEACEFUL, MODEST AND SUCCESSFUL MARRIED LIFE THAT IS FAR BETTER THAN ANY AVERAGE KNOWN CELEBRITY IN THE WEST. THIS FABRICATED STORY WAS SPREAD BY CHEAP GERMAN PRINT MEDIA RATHER, THIS GENTLEMAN WAS VICTIM OF “YELLOW JOURNALISM” WHICH SUPPOSED TO BE CONDEMNED.
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