‘US will not demonise entire Muslim community over terror hearings’
March 7th, 2011 - 5:50 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Mar 7 (ANI): Amid situations wherein a Republican congressman is preparing to open hearing on the threat of homegrown Islamic terrorism, US President Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser has reportedly made a visit to a mosque in Sterling, Virginia, to assure Muslims that America will not “stigmatise or demonise” the entire community for the action of a few.
The timing of Denis McDonough’s visit to the mosque on Sunday was significant, coming just four days before a controversial congressional hearing on Islamic radicalisation.
Representative Peter King of New York, the House Homeland Security Committee chairman, has promised a series of hearings beginning on Thursday on the radicalisation of American Muslims.
Addressing about 200 people in the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, the New York Times quoted McDonough as saying: “In the United States of America, we don’t practice guilt by association. And let’s remember that just as violence and extremism are not unique to any one faith, the responsibility to oppose ignorance and violence rests with us all.”
McDonough, however, avoided making a direct mention about the hearing or King.
Meanwhile, Keith Ellison, the Minnesota Democrat and the only Muslim in Congress, has said that he would testify at King’s hearing on Thursday despite his deep conviction that it is wrong for Congress to investigate a particular religious minority.
King’s hearing has been criticised by people from the Muslim community, with reports saying that almost 500 people demonstrated near Times Square in New York to protest the hearings, and asked King to expand his witness list to include other groups.
King, however, shrugged off the demands saying: “That’s absolute nonsense.” He also said that Al Qaeda is trying to radicalise Muslims and that effort is the leading homegrown terrorism threat, adding: “The threat is coming from the Muslim community. The radicalisation attempts are directed at the Muslim community. Why should I investigate other communities?” (ANI)
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