CNN.com is reporting that Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam has been removed from a flight tonight because his name has appeared on an FBI watch list. Yusuf is currently being detained in Maine until the situation can be resolved, and he is expected to return to England on Wednesday.

According to the article (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/22/plane.diverted.stevens/index.html) Yusuf's name was spotted on the FBI watch list after his flight had already left, and was diverted before reaching its destination. Further, the article states "A government official said Islam was on the watch list because of "known associations and financial support to organizations believed to be aiding terrorism."

One administration official said the singer had been in the United States as recently as May, and was a recent addition to the list."

Additional information obtained through Reuters clarifies that the name "Usef Islam" is the name on the watch list.

We all know that Yusuf does support many charitable organizations, including Small Kindness, his charity which benefits Muslim orphans in war-torn countries such as Bosnia. However, he does not support terrorism. He has consistently denounced the acts of terrorists as being directly contradictory to the peaceful teachings of Islam, his religion for the past twenty years. Yusuf has donated thousands of dollars to the 9/11 Fund in addition to his many other projects. Any suggestion that he has donated any funds to terrorist organizations is untrue.

Yusuf's last visit to America was for the launch of Small Kindness USA and the Majicat DVD release.

It is our hope that this situation will be quickly resolved and Yusuf's name removed from the FBI's list.