Pro-Palestinian musician Yusuf Islam cancels tour over US visa delay

• Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) cancels October North American book tour after US visa delay.
• Singer had planned to promote autobiography across major cities, but future dates depend on visa approval.

Pro-Palestine musician Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, has had to cancel his October book tour across North America after his US visa was not issued in time.

The singer had been waiting for months for the visa to promote his autobiography, Cat on the Road to Find Out, which recounts both his musical career and spiritual journey. 

Islam was scheduled to appear in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto.

He noted that a tour in North America could still happen if the visa is approved later, but any new dates "would be some time away because of other travel tour plans."

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The reason for the visa delay remains unclear though. 

Islam has previously spoken out against ‘Israeli’ actions in Gaza. 

"Who's leading us... and where? The leaders of the so called 'civilised world' are setting course for a dangerously imbalanced world, where international law is leapfrogged, for the benefit and advancement of elite fully politically armed states, and their selfish economical interests," the artist posted on X back in August. 

The singer was barred from entering the US in 2004 on "national security grounds" after a flight to Washington DC was diverted to Maine, where he was escorted off by FBI agents and sent back to the UK.

He rose to fame in the 1960s with hits like Matthew and Son and The First Cut is the Deepest, and later produced songs such as Wild World, Moonshadow, and Father and Son. 

In the 1970s, he released best-selling albums including Tea for the Tillerman, Catch Bull at Four, and Teaser and the Firecat.

After converting to Islam in 1977, Stevens took a break from performing before returning to music in 1995. 

His song Peace Train became his first US Top 10 hit, and he has been recognized globally as a peace activist.