Cat Stevens, the British-born former pop star who has been denied entry to the United States on security grounds, said he was ”totally shocked” by the decision. He arrived in London Thursday.
Stevens, whose heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s and who subsequently converted to Islam and gave up his singing career, told reporters: ”Half of me wants to smile, half of me wants to growl.”
He said he will consult his lawyers over further action regarding his detention by the FBI on Tuesday.
”It’s crazy and everybody knows me from my charitable work and now there has to be explanations, but I’m glad to be home,” said Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam.
Stevens was travelling to Washington when his flight was diverted to Maine, where he was escorted off the plane, questioned and ordered to leave.
US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Stevens’s name is on the government’s terrorist watch list.
The former pop star last visited the US in May of this year to attend a charity event and advertise a new DVD of his 1976 MajiKat tour.
A known activist against the US-led war on Iraq, he released a re-recording of his 1971 hit Peace Train last year. — Sapa-DPA
‘Terrorist’ pop star barred from US