More renowned for his honey-tongued vocals than his outspoken views, Art Garfunkel made headlines recently for his eye-catching comments about Muslims transforming Europe.
Talking to the Daily Mail , the angel-voiced half of sixties pop duo Simon & Garfunkel expressed his opinion that the influx of Muslim migrants from war-torn countries such as Syria could transform the face of Europe and the U.K. forever.
“We are at a very interesting stage right now, where people are escaping from horrendous situations all over the world.
There was a book I read recently, called Reflections Of The Revolution In Europe , where the author wants you to say, ‘Look at the shopkeepers, look at the dry cleaners, and it’s all turning Islamic.’
He is saying, ‘Look, I’m not going to make any judgments about this, but I want you Europeans to see that the changing face of Britain, of Germany and all over Europe is happening. It’s becoming much more Muslim. These are the facts.’ “
Although it should be stressed that the 74-year-old was merely making an observation, and not issuing a stark warning about immigration, Garfunkel’s personally held views are seemingly at loggerheads with those of fellow multi-millionaires such as Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch and celebrity charity worker Bob Geldof, who have launched scathing attacks on Prime Minister David Cameron for not allowing more migrants into Britain.
Garfunkel, who is himself the son of Jewish migrants, and good friends with Yusuf Islam (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens), recently completed a mammoth walk across Europe, which he said made him really think about what was going on in the world.
“The amount of movement and change is extraordinary. Taking those long walks around Europe, I get down into it — I’m engaged.”
In the book by Caldwell, which the “Bridge Over Troubled Water” singer mentions, the author claims that mass immigration by Muslims is transforming Europe because they are supplanting, as opposed to adapting to, existing cultures.
“They are patiently conquering Europe’s cities, street by street. It’s chilling that Europeans can’t have an open debate about the issue because any criticism of Islam is branded Islamophobic.”
[Image Credit: Bryan Bedder / Getty Images]
