The `Purple Rain` singer believes strict Middle Eastern countries which make their laws based on the Muslim religion and dictate what their citizens can do and wear cannot just be dismissed as oppressive and wrong.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Prince - who has been a Jehovah`s Witnesses since 2001 - said: "We can`t do what we want to do all the time. If you don`t have boundaries, what then?

"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 asked what he would say to Muslim women who are unhappy to be forced to wear burqas - which cover the wearer`s entire body apart from their eyes - he replied: "There are people who are unhappy with everything. There`s a dark side to everything. I don`t want to get up on a soapbox. My view of the world, you can debate that forever."

The 53-year-old musician is strict with his own fashion choices and always ensures he is dressed in his trademark flamboyant outfits after some fans didn`t recognise him because he was wearing scruffy clothes.

Prince - who is to play his first ever UK festival on July 3 at the Hop Farm Festival - explained: "I had some old clothes on because I was going to help a friend move house and some girls came by and one went, `Oh my god, Prince!` And the other girl pulled a face and went, `That ain`t Prince.` I didn`t come out of the house raggedy after that."
sections: Celebrities