Singer Cat Stevens Says Awarded Libel Damages

[NVMojo]

Good for him.

LONDON (Reuters) - Yusuf Islam, the pop singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, said on Tuesday he had won substantial damages from two British newspapers which alleged he supported terrorism.
"I am delighted by the settlement which helps vindicate my character and good name," he said after the settlement with The Sun and the Sunday Times.

The singer, who changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1970s, was traveling on a flight from London to Washington when it was diverted to Bangor, Maine last September. He was then deported from the United States.

more...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=7638527

[ET Awful]

1. Good!

Glad to hear it.

[rodeodance]

2. whow-that was quick--bet the brits wanted him off the radar screen

[Jonathan_Hoag]

3. When can families of 911

sue Ward Churchill for libel for calling their loved ones "little Eichmanns"? At least families of those who are not janitors and food service workers.

Or is one "free speech" and other is not?

[NVMojo]

4. Jonathan, England has very strict libel laws, unlike the USA

[CottonBear]

5. He (Cat/Yusef) was accused of financial support of terrorists.

His charity/fundraising work was brought into question by the British and US governments. Ward Churchill has nothing to do with this topic. Cat Stevens actions were questioned. Churchill is an academic who writes essays and books on ethics and philosophy. He has the right and academic freedom to express his opinion. You must not have read the entire piece because you are taking one sentance out of context.

[gratuitous]

10. I believe Mr. Churchill was referring to . . .

The CIA workers in the Twin Towers who perished in their collapse, not a general reference to everyone who lost their lives that day. And as far as that goes, it's an interesting point.

[DrWeird]

18. When hell freezes over. Thank god.

Perhaps you should look up the differences between protected speech and slander.

[Charles19]

6. The two papers were owned by News Corp

Damages won were not disclosed. Yusef stated the money he won in the suit will all be donated to charities in South Asia to help victims of the tsunami.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. tea for the tillerman!...i'm glad to hear the good news

[skjpm]

8. And the apologies from DU members are pouring in

I remember the flames I got for supporting Cat Stevens--where are those guys now?

[NVMojo]

9. that's happened to me here before too. You've been vindicated

along with Cat.

[gottaB]

15. My distaste for Mr. Islam has no connection to Newscorp

I have consistently critized Mr. Islam's political views without once mentioning or relying upon in any way reports by the Sun or the Sunday Times, and I will continue to do so unapologetically.

[HeeBGBz]

20. I got dogged too.

I had to put up with the same crap when I posted about his tsunami concert.

[Strabo]

11. ok, I hate to say it, but...

...screw this guy. He supports the Fatwa on Salman Rushdie.

"Even popular musician Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) indirectly yet infamously stated his agreement with the fatwa. Later, in 1989, Yusuf Islam confirmed in a British television documentary that he wasn't against the death sentence: Rather than go to a demonstration where Rushdie would be burned in effigy, "I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing" he said. If Rushdie showed up at his door, he said he "might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like... I'd try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is." The New York Times reported that he stood by his statements in a subsequent interview."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdie#The_Satanic_Verses_controversy

[Charles19]

12. What was really said -

http://catstevens.com/faq/#00012

[bloom]

14. do you really hate to say it?

then why did you? :silly:

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[anarchy1999]

13. HOORAY!!! Go Cat, GO!

n/t

Moon Shadow.

[delhurgo]

16. Yeah, he's not a terrorist, he just preaches hatred

of women, gays, and anyone that isn't of his own religion - and also supports death sentences for novelists and promotes theocracy as the ideal form of government. I'm so happy for him....couldn't of happened to a more rational, nicer guy, heh.

[DrWeird]

17. Speaking of preaching hatred...

what's with the bigoted stereotypes of muslims?