Muslims Honor a Man of Peace

Signing this petition will demonstrate that the Muslim community of New England supports the nomination of Yusuf Islam for the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award. Previous recipients of the Courage of Conscience Award include Mother Teresa, Ram Dass, Rosa Parks, Howard Zinn, and Muhammad Ali, to name a few. All of whom have come to the Peace Abbey, (www.peaceabbey.com), located in Sherborn, MA, USA, to receive the award.
The founder of the Peace Abbey, Lewis M. Randa, has requested that the Muslim community nominate Yusuf Islam. Mr. Randa has expressed a dedication to righting a wrong that was done this past year, when Islam was turned away from the US. Once nominated, Mr. Randa will move forward with a request to President Bush to lift the travel restriction for Mr. Islam so he could attend a special ceremony in his honor during which he would receive the Courage of Conscience Award.
The Islamic Council of New England is working to nominate Yusuf Islam on behalf of the Muslim community of New England. Peace awards bring attention to humanitarian causes and works that otherwise go unnoticed and the increased visibility translates into positive, increased public awareness. There has never been a better time to shine a bright light into the darkness. Let us seize the day.
SOME FACTS ABOUT YUSUF ISLAM
Yusuf Islam, formerly known as the singer Cat Stevens, was one of the biggest selling artists of the '60s and '70s. In 1977 he converted to Islam, and today, he is one of the world's most famous converts to Islam.
His pioneering work in the field of education resulted in securing support from the British government for Islamic education throughout Great Britain. The three schools he founded in Londons Brent district are consistently at the top of the boroughs examination league tables.

In his dedication to humanitarian relief, he founded a U.N.-registered charity, Small Kindness, that provides direct aid as well as social and educational programs to orphans and families in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and other regions of the world.
In 2003 Yusuf Islam was awarded the 'World Social Award' for his humanitarian relief work. Previous recipients of this award include Pope John Paul II, Steven Spielberg, and Sir Paul McCartney. In 2004, he was honored with the 'Man for Peace' award by a committee of Nobel peace laureates.