The singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, now known as either ‘Yusuf Islam’ or ‘Yusuf’ depending on which audience is watching, accepted a “lifetime achivement” award in Germany over the weekend, for “building bridges” between Islam and the West—and refused to speak with the infidel female guides at the event, because they weren’t wearing the badge of submission: Yusuf Islam Ignores Bare-Headed Women.

Muslim singer YUSUF ISLAM reportedly refused to speak with the female guides at a German event over the weekend (24-25MAR07) because they weren’t veiled - despite accepting an honour for building bridges between Eastern and Western cultures.

The star, formerly known as CAT STEVENS, received a special prize at the Echo Awards last night (25MAR07) in Berlin for his musical, social and political work and was praised as a bridge-builder between the West and the Islamic world.

However, when the FATHER AND SON singer, 58, rehearsed his appearance the day before the prize giving (24MAR07), he acted rather narrow minded, according to German publication B.Z.

When the hostesses approached Islam, who arrived with his management and his veiled wife FAEZIA, telling him that they were his guides, he simply ignored them and didn’t even take a look at the women.

Islam’s manager explains, “Mr Islam doesn’t speak with women except his wife. Least of all if they don’t wear a headscarf. Things like that only happen via an intermediary.”