A United Airlines flight flying from London to Washington was ordered to re-route to Bangor, Maine by the US Department of Homeland Security, to prevent Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, from entering the United States.

Washington officials claim that Islam financially supports terrorist groups.

Islam is currently held by Immigrations and Customs officials in Bangor, and will be deported to Britain soon.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has criticised the government's decision to ban Islam from the United States.

"When internationally-respected Islamic personalities like Yusuf Islam and Professor Tariq Ramadan are denied entry to the United States, it sends the disturbing message that even moderate and mainstream Muslims will now be treated like terrorists," Executive Director Nihad Awad said in the statement.

Ramadan, a respected scholar, was barred in August from entering the United States to teach at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.