While planning his new album, Yusef Islam takes time out to forgive the Pope for his recent comments.
Pope Benedict XVI recently infuriated Muslims by quoting a medieval Byzantine emperor who called some of Mohammed's teachings "evil and inhuman". He later apologised for offending Islam's followers.Yusef Islam (aka Cat Stevens aka Steven Demetre Georgiou), a high profile convert, spoke to Associated Press about the incident, conceding that the Pontiff, "should have looked elsewhere if he wanted to quote, but we respect the Pope and his position. I do believe he has retracted, in a way, that statement and that's all to the good."
While Islam recorded mostly Islamic-themed music since his conversion (including the children's album 'A Is For Allah'), he has recently acknowledged his folky hits from the '70s. He returns with his first "pop" album in almost thirty years, with 'An Other Cup' to be released by Polydor this November. Islam said in a statement, "I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again. It is important for me to be able to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross."
