Cat Stevens: 'I was a victim'

2004-09-29 10:16

Los Angeles - British singer-songwriter and peace activist Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, who was deported from the United States to London on security grounds last week said he was the victim of "unjust" profiling by the US authorities.

Writing in the Los Angeles Times newspaper, Islam - who said he had met two months ago with officials from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Washington - said he had not changed, but that America had.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has defended the US decision to deport Islam, saying intelligence agencies had "found some information concerning his activities," but Islam's article published on Tuesday questioned the US decision.

"God almighty! Is this the same planet I'd taken off from? I was devastated," the 57-year-old, who became a Muslim 27-years-ago, wrote.

'I haven't changed'

"Had I changed that much? No. Actually, it's the indiscriminate procedure of profiling that's changed," Islam said. "I am the victim of an unjust and arbitrary system," he said.

Islam was onboard a United Airlines flight last week from London to Washington, when the flight was diverted to Bangor, Maine, and he was temporarily detained and questioned for "security reasons," before being deported to London.

Time magazine reported on Saturday that Islam's deportation as a "no-fly" terrorist risk was caused by a spelling mix up over the name of "Yusuf Islam" on his passport and a certain "Youssouf Islam" who is on US watch lists.

'Outrageous'

"Ever since I embraced Islam in 1977, people have regularly tried to link me with things I have nothing to do with," he wrote.

"I am a man of peace, and I denounce all forms of terrorism and injustice; it is simply outrageous for anyone to suggest otherwise," Islam said.

Washington also accused Islam of helping to support groups linked to terrorism. The former star said he is taking legal action against the US authorities for his ordeal.

"I have never harboured any ill will toward people of God's great Earth anywhere, and wish the reverse was also true," Islam added.

- AFP