The hippie-era troubadour and Muslim convert Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, is on the comeback trail and already putting his foot in his mouth. For a recent Rolling Stone article, Stevens was asked about his declaration that “[Salman Rushdie] must be killed. The Quran makes it clear: If someone defames the prophet, then he must die.” He said this way back in 1989, shortly after the Ayatollah Khomeini declared a fatwa against Rushdie for blaspheming the prophet Muhammad in his novel The Satanic Verses.
One might assume that the 2015 version of Cat Stevens, singing and playing again in the secular world, would unambiguously disavow his old statements about Rushdie, who was forced into hiding for many years because of the fatwa. But one would be wrong. Instead, Stevens told RS:
I’m a firm believer in the law… I was never a supporter of the fatwa [against Rushdie], but people don’t want to hear that because they keep saying that I believe in the law of blasphemy. All I’m saying is, how can you deny the Third Commandment? It’s an Islamic principle that you must follow the law of the land where you reside.
Swamp Rabbit and I scratched our heads when we read this. Was Stevens saying that Rushdie shouldn’t be killed, period, or that he should only be killed in countries where Islam and the law are the same thing?
The rabbit took a swig of Wild Turkey — to help him think more clearly, I guess. He said, “Sounds to me like Yusuf ain’t honest enough to admit he talked like a jackass back in the day. He should apologize to Rushdie, or keep his yap shut.”
I almost agreed with the rabbit. Stevens should be able to say whatever he wants to say, but no way would I ride the peace train with a guy who can’t quite renouce the ultimate form of censorship. Even if I could afford the ticket.
Steven’s has made the same mistake that most Christians make in thinking that prophets are God.
Neither Muhammad nor Christ ever claimed to be God. They both said that they knew God, were of God and were relating to the people the word of God. But they never said that they ‘were’ God.
Therefore the Third Commandment doesn’t apply.
But let’s reflect on what’s happening in Europe these days. Three things are occurring. Anti-Semitism is on the rise, anti-Muslimism is on the rise and the Fascist Right is on the rise.
The Fascists dislike both the Muslims and the Jews. So it would seem logical that the Jews and the Muslims would join forces to defeat the Fascists.
Forgetaboutit.
The Zionists hate Islam more then they hate Fascists and the Muslims hate the Zionists more then they hate the Fascists.
There is a European Civil War brewing. The Zionists will be the big losers. Again.
The Pope mouthed the same nonsense yesterday but sidestepped the penalty because it tends to bring back inquisitorial memories.