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Sunday, November 23, 2008

[chottala.com] Re: [odhora] Michael Jackson converts to Islam & settles $7 million lawsuit with a Bahraini sheik

 Michael Jackson converts to Islam &  settles  $7 million lawsuit with a Bahraini sheik

 Jackson spokeswoman: singer, sheik settle lawsuit

4 hours ago

LONDON (AP) — Michael Jackson's spokeswoman says the pop star has reached a settlement with a Bahraini sheik who is suing him for $7 million.

Celena Aponte says the out-of-court settlement means Jackson will not appear at London's High Court as scheduled on Monday. Aponte says Jackson was informed of the deal as he was about to board a flight to London.

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa says he gave the singer millions and planned a series of collaborations following Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in June 2005. Jackson says the money was a gift.

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, center, leaves the High Court in London, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. The Sheik, the son of an Arab monarch, has taken US singer Michael Jackson to court, charging that the King of Pop took US$7 million (5.5 million euro) as an advance on an album and an autobiography that he never produced. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa is seen as he leaves the High Court in London, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. The Sheik, the son of an Arab monarch, has taken US singer Michael Jackson to court, charging that the King of Pop took US$7 million (5.5 million euro) as an advance on an album and an autobiography that he never produced. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jackson spokeswoman: singer, sheik settle lawsuit

By JILL LAWLESS – 4 hours ago

LONDON (AP) — Michael Jackson has reached a settlement with a Bahraini sheik who says the singer owes him $7 million after breaching a signed contract, the pop star's spokeswoman said Sunday.

The out-of-court settlement means Jackson will not be giving evidence at London's High Court as scheduled on Monday, Celena Aponte said.

Scores of journalists and fans had been expected to cram the courtroom for the appearance by the always-unpredictable King of Pop. Aponte said Jackson was informed of the deal as he was about to board a flight to London.

"As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle," Aponte said. "Therefore, he will not be attending court on Monday."

A representative for the sheik could not immediately be reached late Sunday.

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa said he gave the singer millions and planned a series of collaborations following Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in June 2005. Al Khalifa, 33, invited Jackson to the small, oil-rich Gulf state to escape the media spotlight.

The sheik, the second son of the king of Bahrain, said he believed he had formed "a close personal relationship" with the star, whom he referred to affectionately as "my brother."

Al Khalifa said he gave Jackson millions of dollars to help shore up his finances and subsidize Jackson's lifestyle in Bahrain — including more than $300,000 for a "motivational guru." Al Khalifa, an amateur songwriter, says the pair even moved into the same palace to work on music together.

But Jackson dropped the project in 2006, leaving Bahrain and pulling out of the contract.

Jackson's lawyers have maintained the money was a gift and argued that the musician wasn't bound by the deal because the contract was signed on behalf of 2 Seas Records, a venture which never got off the ground.

The singer originally wanted to avoid coming to London to answer the lawsuit in person, seeking instead to give evidence by video link from the United States. His lawyer, Robert Englehart, had claimed that Jackson should be spared the trans-Atlantic trip due to an unspecified illness, but on Thursday the lawyer said the 50-year-old star had been cleared for travel.

The suit is being heard in London by mutual agreement.

Jackson's purported medical problems — and his sometimes bizarre demeanor — have been a regular feature of previous court appearances. His 2005 trial was punctuated by complaints of back problems, an apparent bout with the flu and visits to the hospital. At one point, the judge had to order the pajama-clad star into court from the emergency room.

His most notorious appearance came in 2002, when a wide-eyed Jackson testified in a California courtroom with what appeared to be a bandage hanging from his nose.

Associated Press Writer Raphael G. Satter contributed to this report.

 

Related:

Michael Jackson Expected to Appear at London High Court Monday to Testify

Bahraini Prince Takes on King of Pop

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6299374&page=1

 

 

 
On 11/21/08, HaSSaN..? <aaya_karo_naa@yahoo.com> wrote:
Michael Jackson converts to Islam
 
TO ALLAH WITH LOVE: The popular singer will now swear by Islam, the new religion he has adopted
 
TO ALLAH WITH LOVE: The popular singer will now swear by Islam, the new religion he has adopted
 
London: Pop singer Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel.
The 50-year-old star, pledged his allegiance to the Koran in a ceremony at a friend's mansion in Los Angeles, the Sun reported.
Jackson sat on the floor wearing a tiny hat after an Imam was summoned to officiate -- days before the singer is due to appear at London's High Court where he is being sued by an Arab Sheikh, the paper said.
The star decided to adopt the new religion while he was recording a song at the home of his friend where a Jehovah's witness was brought up to help him through the ceremony.
Apparently the star of hits like The Way You Make Me Feel-was convinced by his producer and songwriter friends David Wharnsby and Phillip Bubal.
"They began talking to him about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted. Michael soon began warming to the idea.
"An Imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahada, which is the Muslim declaration of belief," the source revealed.
Mikaeel is the name of one of Allah's angels.
"Jacko rejected an alternative name, Mustafa meaning "the chosen one", the source added.
The singer, who rarely ventures out without a mask, is due to give evidence on Monday in a 4.7 million pound lawsuit brought by Prince Abdulla Al-Khalif of Bahrain for defaulting on an exclusive recording contract.
 
for more detail ..click the link...
 
 
 


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