Prince says women “happy” to wear burqa (VIDEO)

Prince, the musician behind such pop hits as "Purple Rain," has told a British newspaper that women forced to wear burqas in Islamic countries were "happy" to wear them.

In Islamic countries, Prince told the Guardian:

"It’s fun being in Islamic countries, to know there’s only one religion.

"There’s order. You wear a burqa. There’s no choice. People are happy with that."

When the interviewer pointed out perhaps that not every woman forced to wear the face- and form-covering cloak appreciated it, the singer — who "remains one of pop's biggest stars," according to the Guardian — reportedly said: "There are people who are unhappy with everything. There’s a dark side to everything."

Prince — embraced religion in 2001, when he became a Jehovah's Witness, the Guardian writes.

He was back in the news over the weekend after criticizing the organizers of the Glastonbury festival, claiming that rumors that he was to play the festival were an attempt to sell tickets on the back of his stardom. "They use my name to sell the festival," he said. "It's illegal. I've never spoken to anyone about doing that concert, ever."

Prince in 2007 had his lawyers instruct fan sites to remove all photographs and images related to his likeness.

Considered one of the most influential music acts of the past 30 years, Prince is drawing attention to his European tour this summer by making critical statements about the Internet and Web piracy.

He also reportedly has a meeting scheduled with President Barack Obama at the White House to discuss the issue.

"Nobody’s making money now except phone companies, Apple and Google," he told the Guardian.

Prince seemed to backtrack on his burqa comments later in the Guardian interview. "My view of the world, you can debate that forever. But I’m a musician … come to the show for that."