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UAE bars entry for Israeli tennis player

americanwoman said:
You are correct. I work in corporate business travel and visas get denied all the time, for whatever reason- mostly political. Many countries deny visas for someone who even has an Israeli stamp on their passport, we have to recommend they get a second passport to gain entry if they want to get in. It's pretty stupid and petty but it's the discretion of the country to allow entry if they require visas to get in.
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Yet more evidence of middle eastern racism.
 
Laila said:
Oh yeah ....
Oh well, UAE may lose it's priviledge as well.

This much fuss over a tennis player. Wow.
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The UAE needs to be banned from all competitive sports. Racism needs to draw a stiff penalty.

Racist asshole control is important. The UAE made excuses when confronted with their racist actions.

This is sufficient cause to permanently remove the UAE from ALL competitive sports. The wanna be racist assholes ... they can pay a heavy price for it.

Let this be a lesson to the racist ass monkeys in the UAE. Racism = permanent ban from all international competitive sports.
 
americanwoman said:
I agree and think they should loose this tournament. Maybe that's what it will take for their government to realize how childish and stupid their visa stipulations are.
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They should lose ALL competitive sports. Let the world boycott their racist monkey asses.
 
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PeteEU said:
And so what. The WTA aint the UAE. The WTA knows that it has to follow the rules of the countries where it holds competitions. If it does not like those rules, then dont freaking hold the competitions there.

I dont like this any more than the next guy, but I refuse to be up in arms over it just because it happens to be an Israeli, when very few were up in arms over Cat Stevens being banned from the US, or the thousands of innocent people including 3 month old babies being banned from entering the US due to having the "wrong name". And where on these boards was the uproar over the UK kicking out the Dutch right wing politician the other day? No where as far as I can see. Countries do it all the time and it is their right regardless if we agree with it or not. And dont play all high and mighty, because even Israel has banned people from entering Israel and keep doing it... where is your "uproar" over that?
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The difference is that Cat Stevens was banned from entering the US because he was a (real or imagined) security threat, not because of his religion or nationality.
 
UAE will let Israeli man play tennis: U.S. Congressman | Sports | Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A male Israeli tennis player will get a visa to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships, a U.S. congressman said on Wednesday, adding that as a result he will not ask the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to cancel the event.

In the wake of the Gulf state's denial of a visa for a female Israeli tennis player, Representative Anthony Weiner of New York had scheduled a news conference on Wednesday to press the ATP to withdraw its backing for the tournament, a spokesman for the Brooklyn congressman said.

But Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Washington, has now assured Weiner that the male doubles player, Andy Ram, will be allowed to play in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which starts Monday.
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I think they've leaned their lesson. Money talks and all that stuff...
 
Orius said:
There are countries that won't allow Palestinians in either... let's not paint Israel as the only victim here. The heated political nature of the conflict in the West bank has polarized opinions all over the world. Even some governments have taken sides when it comes to their entry policies. We should not be surprised.
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Have you ever heard of Palestinians being denied entry to other countries for internationally sanctioned sporting events?
 
Laila said:
I don't care what her ranking is, i don't even care if she continues to get refused.
It is not on my list of things to whine about. You'd think someone died. It is just ONE tennis player. Her being Israeli means nothing to me, i wouldn't care if it was a British tennis player refused.
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Then why are you trolling in this thread? I used to be an internationally competitive athlete and I think this stinks. I live in a city where CHILDREN were denied a visa to compete in a baseball tournament last year because the dictator in training in Venezuela was listening more to his Chinese minders than to the commitments you make when you host an international tournament. If you don't care about it, find another thread to contribute to.
 
Kandahar said:
The difference is that Cat Stevens was banned from entering the US because he was a (real or imagined) security threat, not because of his religion or nationality.
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Yes, but one can claim that any Israeli in an gulf nation is a threat to security too. Just as valid excuse.

My point is that any nation can for any reason deny a visa to anyone. People are denied visa's because of criminal records, where they are from, where they have been, who they are and so on. Any excuse is valid, as it is up to the nation in question. Hell they dont have to give an excuse!

The only reason that this got up in the media is because the person in question was from Israel and it was part of the never ending propaganda battle in the region, where both sides play the "victim" card. Call me a racist, anti-semitist or whatever, but it is a fact that this has gotten far far more media time than any other denial of a visa in recent history. Not even Cat Stevens got this much attention, and he was a far bigger star than this Israeli player. Even Snoop Dog being denied entry to Norway and other European countries barely got a beep on the radar.

Should she or any Israel be able to play anywhere in the world? Sure but we do not live in a perfect world do we now.
 
PeteEU said:
Yes, but one can claim that any Israeli in an gulf nation is a threat to security too. Just as valid excuse.
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A 20-something female tennis player is a threat? :rofl
That is a stretch, even for you.

My point is that any nation can for any reason deny a visa to anyone. People are denied visa's because of criminal records, where they are from, where they have been, who they are and so on. Any excuse is valid, as it is up to the nation in question. Hell they dont have to give an excuse!
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And international governing bodies then have the right to pull their tournaments from said countries, as the IBAF did last year when Venezuela denied visas to Taiwanese children who qualified for a world championship tournament. You lobby for international events, it is incumbant on you to follow international standards, or face losing the events.

The only reason that this got up in the media is because the person in question was from Israel and it was part of the never ending propaganda battle in the region, where both sides play the "victim" card. Call me a racist, anti-semitist or whatever, but it is a fact that this has gotten far far more media time than any other denial of a visa in recent history. Not even Cat Stevens got this much attention, and he was a far bigger star than this Israeli player. Even Snoop Dog being denied entry to Norway and other European countries barely got a beep on the radar.
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It became an event because this is so rare. Other than the Taiwanese children who were denied visas by Chavez last year, I have heard of precious few situations where athletes (EVEN TAIWANESE ONES - dispite our country's diplomatic isolation) are denied visas for sporting events.

Should she or any Israel be able to play anywhere in the world? Sure but we do not live in a perfect world do we now.
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And the international governing bodies have the right and responsibility to pull the tournaments to ensure ALL players are on the same competitive playing field.

Personally, I think the WTA should EXCLUDE all ranking points from this event to determine world rankings, but I don't they they will do that.
 
ludahai said:
Have you ever heard of Palestinians being denied entry to other countries for internationally sanctioned sporting events?
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Yes. The Palestinian National Football team has had members denied access to the first International game because some members were not given permission to travel in the occupied areas by... yep the IDF. This includes travel outside of Israel.

The World Today - Palestinian National Football Team prepares for the next World Cup despite difficulties

Basicly Israel denied 18 members of the Palestinian team out of Gaza and Palestine had to forfeit a game.

Palestine Football Team Red-Carded by Israeli Authorities and FIFA | The Morningside Post

Individual players have also been denied access to participate.. that is on top of their homes being destroyed. Ziyad Al-Kord was denied to travel by the IDF and his home was destroyed when was allowed to travel to play football..

Even just half a year ago, members of the Palestinian Football team were denied in leaving the occupied areas and Gaza, by Israel... anyone hear much about that?

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Palestinian football returns home

Now I find it very ironic, that this Israeli tennis player situation gets blasted all over the place, and yet we never have heard much about what Israel does to Palestinian sports people... double standard or not?

Oh btw, the Brits refused the Palestinian U18 team access to the UK

visas

The UK also regularly denies visa to people who want to participate in professional football.

And even one of the biggest sports stars in the world (granted retired) was denied a visa to the US for medical treatment..

CNNSI.com - World Soccer - Maradona praises Cuba, says U.S. denied visa - Monday January 24, 2000 05:13 PM

Kenyan footballer denied visa

Leading Kenyan footballer denied visa to join professional team in the Czech Republic | Breaking News Kenya

Tibetan Football squad denied visa to France

Tibetan Football Squad Denied Visa - www.phayul.com

US denies Cuban baseball team visa

Cubans denied US visa to play baseball in Pueto Rico - Cuba Culture News - Havana Journal

So as everyone sees, denying visas to sports people is actually quite common, including in the US. So using the "sports must be free of politics" excuse is just a bull**** excuse.

So I ask again, why should this case be so blown up in the media?

Because she is Israeli and it is another shot in the never ending propaganda war between the Israeli's and Palestinians, where both sides try to paint themselves as "victims" against the evil opposition.
 
PeteEU said:
Yes, but one can claim that any Israeli in an gulf nation is a threat to security too. Just as valid excuse.
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The US government claims that Cat Stevens is affiliated with terrorist groups, which is the reason for his blacklist. I don't know what evidence they have, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me if those allegations were true given some of his past comments. Regardless, they don't need to prove anything to deport him.

In the case of this Israeli tennis player, they didn't even claim that she had done anything wrong. They didn't claim that she was a terrorist or posed a threat to anyone. They denied her entry specifically because of her nationality.

PeteEU said:
My point is that any nation can for any reason deny a visa to anyone. People are denied visa's because of criminal records, where they are from, where they have been, who they are and so on. Any excuse is valid, as it is up to the nation in question. Hell they dont have to give an excuse!
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The Kim Jong-il view of national sovereignty.

PeteEU said:
The only reason that this got up in the media is because the person in question was from Israel and it was part of the never ending propaganda battle in the region, where both sides play the "victim" card. Call me a racist, anti-semitist or whatever, but it is a fact that this has gotten far far more media time than any other denial of a visa in recent history. Not even Cat Stevens got this much attention, and he was a far bigger star than this Israeli player. Even Snoop Dog being denied entry to Norway and other European countries barely got a beep on the radar.
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Cat Stevens and Snoop Dogg were not denied entry because of their nationality. Lots of Britons travel to the US, and lots of Americans travel to Norway.

PeteEU said:
Should she or any Israel be able to play anywhere in the world? Sure but we do not live in a perfect world do we now.
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No we certainly do not. Not as long as people such as yourself keep justifying pointless restrictions on freedom such as this. :roll:

But I'll hear you out. Please explain why you think she should've been denied entry, and what aspect of an imperfect world makes this decision necessary.
 
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PeteEU said:
Yes. The Palestinian National Football team has had members denied access to the first International game because some members were not given permission to travel in the occupied areas by... yep the IDF. This includes travel outside of Israel.

The World Today - Palestinian National Football Team prepares for the next World Cup despite difficulties

Basicly Israel denied 18 members of the Palestinian team out of Gaza and Palestine had to forfeit a game.
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They weren't denied ENTRY into the country, they were not allowed to leave their own. Not the same thing. Nice try.

Palestine Football Team Red-Carded by Israeli Authorities and FIFA | The Morningside Post

Individual players have also been denied access to participate.. that is on top of their homes being destroyed. Ziyad Al-Kord was denied to travel by the IDF and his home was destroyed when was allowed to travel to play football..

Even just half a year ago, members of the Palestinian Football team were denied in leaving the occupied areas and Gaza, by Israel... anyone hear much about that?

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Palestinian football returns home

Now I find it very ironic, that this Israeli tennis player situation gets blasted all over the place, and yet we never have heard much about what Israel does to Palestinian sports people... double standard or not?
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Different situation. It was a war zone.

Oh btw, the Brits refused the Palestinian U18 team access to the UK

visas
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This was NOT an internationally sanctioned event, but a series of friendly games that were to be played in England. Again, not the same thing. Nice try.

And, there was an apparently legitimate reason, from your own source.

The official reason given for refusing the visitors visas is that the Palestinians are too poor to be trusted to return home.
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The UK also regularly denies visa to people who want to participate in professional football.
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They are denied WORK PERMITS. Again, this is not internationally sanctioned. This is in accordance with internal British laws for club football. Again, not the same.

And even one of the biggest sports stars in the world (granted retired) was denied a visa to the US for medical treatment..
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Was he denied entry for a FIFA-sanctioned soccer event? I didn't think so. Again, non-comparable.

CNNSI.com - World Soccer - Maradona praises Cuba, says U.S. denied visa - Monday January 24, 2000 05:13 PM

Kenyan footballer denied visa

Leading Kenyan footballer denied visa to join professional team in the Czech Republic | Breaking News Kenya
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Once again, not an internationally sanctioned sporting competition. Try again.

Tibetan Football squad denied visa to France

Tibetan Football Squad Denied Visa - www.phayul.com
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There is no official Tibetan national football squad. They were to be in France for friendly matches, not an internationally sanctioned sporting competition.

US denies Cuban baseball team visa

Cubans denied US visa to play baseball in Pueto Rico - Cuba Culture News - Havana Journal
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That's funny because Cuba won gold in that tournament - something they couldn't have done if they couldn't have qualified.

So as everyone sees, denying visas to sports people is actually quite common, including in the US. So using the "sports must be free of politics" excuse is just a bull**** excuse.
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But you fail the test of examples where visas were denied for internationally sanctioned sporting events - which is what the event in question is and what I asked for.

You FAIL!
 
Kandahar said:
The US government claims that Cat Stevens is affiliated with terrorist groups, which is the reason for his blacklist. I don't know what evidence they have, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me if those allegations were true given some of his past comments. Regardless, they don't need to prove anything to deport him.
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The evidence they have come from the Israelis. He supposedly once gave money to a muslim charity, that was a possible front for Hamas and he claims he had no knowledge of this. I guess that 1 euro I threw in a charity bucket at the kebab store might go to a terrorist organisation and hence I should be on the no fly list. Or maybe those sun glasses I bought from an African on the beach might be financing some criminal or terrorist organisation..

In the case of this Israeli tennis player, they didn't even claim that she had done anything wrong. They didn't claim that she was a terrorist or posed a threat to anyone. They denied her entry specifically because of her nationality.
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Wrong. They denied her a visa.. period. This is their right. The reasoning was never published as far as I know, and regardless if it was or not.. it is their right to deny anyone for whatever reason.

The Kim Jong-il view of national sovereignty.
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No, that is reality. Martha Stewart has been denied access to the UK because she has a criminal record. People from Nepal have been denied access to the UK because they cant prove they can support themselves in the UK and that is despite serving in the UK army. Any day of the week, a person is denied visa all around the world for various reasons. Some countries deny women visas because they are not travelling with a man (yea stupid reason but hey). The US denies visa to many Mexicans ...why? They need a greencard and getting one aint exactly easy. The UK has banned muslims, jews and racist fascist Dutch politicians from accessing the UK, because of things they have said or done. But it is their RIGHT to do so, regardless if we like it or not. The US denied Yassir Arafat a visa to speak at the UN.

Cat Stevens and Snoop Dogg were not denied entry because of their nationality. Lots of Britons travel to the US, and lots of Americans travel to Norway.
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Nope they were not. But denying visa based on nationality is just as valid as basing it on a criminal record or a medical condition (HIV positive people to the US). You might not like it, I dont that is for sure, but I accept it because every nation can deny anyone access for what ever reason they see fit. I absolutely think the US ban on people with HIV is horrible, but I accept it as the right of the US to do so.

No we certainly do not. Not as long as people such as yourself keep justifying pointless restrictions on freedom such as this. :roll:
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Pointless? All restrictions on travel are pointless in my mind, yet we have them. The US bans people with HIV in travelling to the US. What is the point in that? What was the point in having Nelson Mandela on the no fly list and banned for the US until very recently?

But I'll hear you out. Please explain why you think she should've been denied entry, and what aspect of an imperfect world makes this decision necessary.
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OMFGS, I never said she should have been denied entry. I repeat again, in my view she should be allowed to play. I have stated time and time again, that in my opinion she should have been granted access and that it was a bad call by the UAE, but that I accept that it is the right of the UAE to deny her, me, you and anyone they see fit for whatever reason they see fit. The US does it, Israel does, Denmark does it, the UK does it, Spain does it..
 
ludahai said:
They weren't denied ENTRY into the country, they were not allowed to leave their own. Not the same thing. Nice try.
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Err, no they were denied to leave through Israel. There are no airports that are not under Israeli control in the Palestinian areas.

Different situation. It was a war zone.
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Give me a break. The ultimate hypocritical hyperhole.

This was NOT an internationally sanctioned event, but a series of friendly games that were to be played in England. Again, not the same thing. Nice try.

And, there was an apparently legitimate reason, from your own source.
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Not the same thing? It is a sports event lol. So what if it is "internationally sanctioned event".. what ever happened to no politics in sport? Hypocrite. Plus it was the Palestinian Youth team.. they represent the Palestinans... so yes it was an "internationally sanctioned event" by any standard. When a team representing a nation goes on tour.. it is. And the reason they were too poor? But the point is yet again, Palestinians were denied visa.

They are denied WORK PERMITS. Again, this is not internationally sanctioned. This is in accordance with internal British laws for club football. Again, not the same.
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Of course it is the same. So the British Championship is not an internationally accepted and sanctioned organisation? They are you know... by FIFA and UEFA.

Once again, not an internationally sanctioned sporting competition. Try again.
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Nope, just an example of a visa denial.. he happens to be a former sports star.. but /shrug

There is no official Tibetan national football squad. They were to be in France for friendly matches, not an internationally sanctioned sporting competition.
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The Tibetans would disagree with you.
That's funny because Cuba won gold in that tournament - something they couldn't have done if they couldn't have qualified.
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And? Still does not change the fact that the US denied visas.

But you fail the test of examples where visas were denied for internationally sanctioned sporting events - which is what the event in question is and what I asked for.
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Lets see.. The Palestinian's were denied by Israel to travel to internationally sanctioned sports events and you gloss over it and mumble something about "it is a war zone". Talk about a double standard and being a hypocrite... is sport not to be mixed with politics?

A cuban baseball team was denied access to the US, and all you can say is they went on to win the final tournament? You do know that Cubans have hell of a time getting a visa to the US right? That there had to be a new law to make it possible for professional Cuban baseball players to have easier access to the US?

On top of that you refuse to accept that a Youth Football team representing a country going on a tour in another country is not "internationally sanctioned". Is it because they are poor or kids? Or because they are Palestinians and most likely Muslims that you wont accept this as evidence?

Also you refuse to accept that work permits (aka Visa's) to the professional football league is "internationally sanctioned".

How about this one then

FIFA cancels Fiji/NZ World Cup qualifier over visa impasse

It has big words like FIFA, visa denied and world cup qualifier. Is that acceptable?

Or this one

Home Office rejects Man City move for Iraqi hero midfielder Nashat Akram | Manchester City - Times Online

Is Manchester City an "internationally sanctioned" team? Hope so, since they playing my home team in the UEFA cup tomorrow....Is he not a big enough "international player"?

Or this one

Iran protests U.S. visa denial to blind athletes

Not only do they deny visa for an internationally sanctioned event, but the athletes are blind! Or do you not accept handicapped sports at a World Championship as "internationally sanctioned events"?

I have never said there were many but there are quite a few situations where professional and/or national sanctioned sports people have been denied visa's to many countries for many different reasons.
 
bub said:
why do you need to attack him based on his origins, and not just debate about what he says?
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Because culture is everything and what he say's has everything to do with his origins. People like to pretend that they are citizens of Earth these days, but the truth is that they continue to cling to tribe and all the background hatreds that go with it. And when someone tries to dismiss an athlete's denied entry into a country, because that athlete is a Jew, by comparing it to a case where an individual was denied based on a terrorist hit list...they are indeed showing their culture.

It's the same attitude that would blame Jews for the Black Death, the same attitude that would ignore a holocaust until the offending army crosses a border, the same attitude that would shed crocodile tears only long enough to satisfy the impending eye roll over Jewish athletes being murdered at an Olympic event, and the same attitude that sees no problem with an Arab region continuing the hatreds based on Jewish ancestory. And history is very clear about what a cultural hatred for Jews always leads to.

Perhaps its this understanding that leads to the distinct differnence between people who stand and defend a Jew and those people who turn away and roll their eyes. And usually, the eye rollers are from the specific cultures that have historically caused so much damage towards the Jewish people. Notice how little concern Asia has for Israel or Jews? Europe slaughterd them. The Middle East religiously, nationaly, and personally detests them and merely tolerates them ("People of the Book") just as long as they live under a Muslim government. And America has a mixture of European mood and American mood.

You ask what his origins have to do with it. I reply, "everything."
 
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Some people here are acting childish. Unfortunately, Some of them supposed to be the "Big Heads" here.
 
PeteEU said:
And they US has banned people from entering the US... remember Cat Stevens? and in the US case it is a huge majority muslims...? The UK just banned "the" dutch politician from entering the UK because of his racist views.. Countries do it all the time. But in this case people are up in arms because it is a jew? Give me a break.

The UAE can ban anyone they want from entering their territory, just like anyone else.
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The tennis player hasn't supported terrorism.

I guess they will have to bar Jews from their European PGA Tour event too?

Is Cat Stevens a Terrorist?
Yusuf Islam is already well known for his public endorsement of the death sentence issued by Ayatollah Khomeini against Salman Rushdie in February 1989. "Salman Rushdie, indeed any writer who abuses the prophet or indeed any prophet under Islamic law, the sentence for that is actually death," he said at the time. In addition, he has been barred from entering Israel because of alleged financial aid given to terrorist groups.

Is the singer a terrorist himself? Probably not. Is he an active sympathizer of terrorist groups? Perhaps not as much as he was in the past.

But Yusuf Islam is most certainly a fundamentalist Muslim, whose views are radical enough to set him at odds with the great majority of the world's Islamic adherents,
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Perhaps he should have been sponsored as a guest lecturer at Harvard, Yale or Columbia. Either that or as a student.

They seem to be all hot to "woo" terrorists to their schools. Helps with the cultural diversity.

I can hear them burning up the phone lines... Hey... get that terrorist here before Harvard does... offer him... offer him a full ride (snicker, snicker)... no pun intended Richard... we, we, we (gasping for air) need that terrorist here to add to our dialogue about how evil Bush is.

The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Taliban At Harvard? Rumors Fly at Yale
A former Yale admissions dean says the school accepted an ex-Taliban official because it didn’t want to see Harvard woo the Afghani applicant to Cambridge.

Richard Shaw, who served as Yale’s dean of admissions from 1993 to 2005, told the New York Times Magazine that Yale admitted Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi, the Taliban’s former chief envoy, because the school had once had a student of similar caliber apply but that it had “lost him to Harvard” and “didn’t want that to happen again.”
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I think that they just wanted to protect her as Israelis aren't so liked in the UAE.
Or maybe they're avoiding the talkings of the opposition parties.
UAE is a peaceful country, I think that they know what are they doing.
 
Ahmed Shaheen said:
I think that they just wanted to protect her as Israelis aren't so liked in the UAE.
Or maybe they're avoiding the talkings of the opposition parties.
UAE is a peaceful country, I think that they know what are they doing.
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It wouldn't have been to difficult to have provided her security. It was her choice too. If it was an issue they should have dealt with it early and in conjunction with the WTA and the player.

I haven't heard anything bad about the UAE. I've had friends in the oil industry work there, others who've gone for vacation there.

I think this could be rectified by having her in next year's tournament. Otherwise I think the WTA will pull out.
 
zimmer said:
The tennis player hasn't supported terrorism.
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So? Did the Cuban's denied from the US, support terrorism? As I stated, the UAE need no reason to deny anyone period. The fact that they stated security concerns is just as valid excuse as the US banning Cat Stevens or putting Senator Kennedy on the no fly list. You might not like it, I surely dont like it, but it is their right to do so, just as it is our right to complain over the actions of governments to deny visa's for what ever reason.

I guess they will have to bar Jews from their European PGA Tour event too?
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Ahh classic right wing tactic, drag the debate down in the dirt.

Is Cat Stevens a Terrorist?

Perhaps he should have been sponsored as a guest lecturer at Harvard, Yale or Columbia. Either that or as a student.

They seem to be all hot to "woo" terrorists to their schools. Helps with the cultural diversity.

I can hear them burning up the phone lines... Hey... get that terrorist here before Harvard does... offer him... offer him a full ride (snicker, snicker)... no pun intended Richard... we, we, we (gasping for air) need that terrorist here to add to our dialogue about how evil Bush is.
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Now that is funny... the article is biased, without facts about Cat Stevens, and rambles hatred about Muslims.. oh and its written by someone with a traditionally Jewish last name. Go figure!

Cat Stevens says that he thinks that people who commit blasphemy under Islam should be punished according to the Koran, and that is by death. A US evangelical preacher or right wing politician calls for assassination of people and not a peep.... freaking double standard no?

Face it, he was on the no fly list because of what Israel thinks of him period. The sad thing is that he went to the US several times in the months before the incident with no problems...........IF the reasoning was his views on blasphemy, then why suddenly wait half a decade later.. 3 years into the "no fly list", to suddenly put him on it?

Plus he also said this.

I wish to express my heartfelt horror at the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed against innocent people of the United States yesterday. While it is still not clear who carried out the attack, it must be stated that no right-thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action. The Qur'an equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity. We pray for the families of all those who lost their lives in this unthinkable act of violence as well as all those injured; I hope to reflect the feelings of all Muslims and people around the world whose sympathies go out to the victims of this sorrowful moment.
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And he donated proceeds of his record sales to the 9/11 foundation.

VH1.com : News :

Oh yea he is a real threat to the US...................and a terrorist sympathiser.

I guess we can now start calling Ann Coulter and Pat Robertson as terrorists also since they hold similar views...
 
PeteEU said:
Ahh classic right wing tactic, drag the debate down in the dirt.
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It's a legitimate question.

Now that is funny... the article is biased, without facts about Cat Stevens,
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"Salman Rushdie, indeed any writer who abuses the prophet or indeed any prophet under Islamic law, the sentence for that is actually death," Yusaf Cat Stevens Islam said at the time.

Post 911, Being the supporter of Khomeni's fatwa should create some problems. Even a closed door.

and rambles hatred about Muslims...written by someone with a traditionally Jewish last name. Go figure!
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Phew.:attn1: Warning: thin ice ahead.

A US evangelical preacher or right wing politician calls for assassination of people and not a peep.... freaking double standard no?
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Who may this be and do you have a link.
If you represented the person correctly, then he is our idiot. He is an American idiot. We don't have to let in foreign idiots that support executions of some obscure author.

Face it, he was on the no fly list because of what Israel thinks of him period.
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I don't know that. Do you? I think supporting Khomeni's fatwa was enough to do it without any foreign assistance. Like denying a known skinhead permission into the US.

The sad thing is that he went to the US several times in the months before the incident with no problems...........IF the reasoning was his views on blasphemy, then why suddenly wait half a decade later.. 3 years into the "no fly list", to suddenly put him on it?
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Making a list, checking it twice... perhaps he was going to do a fundraiser for Democrats? I don't know, but he sounds like one of their constituents.

Cat Stevens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 1 October 2004 Yusuf Islam requested the removal of his name, "I remain bewildered by the decision of the US authorities to refuse me entry to the United States."[54] According to a statement by Yusuf Islam, the man on the list was named "Youssef Islam", indicating that Yusuf Islam himself was not the suspected terrorism supporter.[6]

Two years later, in December 2006, Yusuf Islam was admitted without incident into the United States
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So all is good in the world.
He got back in to profit from the infidel.

And he donated proceeds of his record sales to the 9/11 foundation.
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He donated a "portion".


I guess we can now start calling Ann Coulter and Pat Robertson as terrorists also since they hold similar views...
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Pat is a guy I have a difficult time watching.
Ann on the other hand, she's a gem.
She knows all the lib's soft spots and applies just enough pressure to send them into a tizzy... like those chicks whose heads explode in Austin Powers.
PS. You don't have to start linking things "Ann said", because in virtually all instances, she either never said what is attributed to her, or it's taken way out of context.
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I don't even know why it's this thread is still going.

Like 4 pages in Israeli male tennis player got his visa to play in the UAE. I fail to see how it's racial now.

It seems more like there was something wrong with her passport or some other reason they don't have to give for not allowing her into the country.

PS - All you guys actually think the UAE/Dubai cares about sporting events? That's like half a percent of there actual tourist economy. I mean, they've got the world's largest LCD screen there.
 
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