Cat Stevens accepts damages over sexist libel

YUSUF ISLAM — the former Cat Stevens — has accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages over a claim that he was a sexist bigot who refused to speak to any women not wearing a veil.

The Muslim singer-songwriter’s solicitor, Adam Tudor, told Mr Justice Eady at London’s High Court that the allegations, which appeared in March last year, were entirely false.

“Mr Islam has never had any difficulties working with women, whether for religious or any other reasons. In his normal life, women feature among some of the most influential people in his team,” Mr Tudor said.

He claimed the article was distributed by the agency World Entertainment News Network (WENN) to subscribers, including the website Contactmusic.com, which has 2.2 million page views a month.

It suggested that the singer was so sexist and bigoted that he refused at an awards ceremony to speak to — or even acknowledge — any women who were not wearing a veil.