Religious Leaders Object To Planned House Hearings On Radicalization of U.S. Muslims

Think Progress reported yesterday that over 80 leaders of Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu congregations on Long Island have signed a letter (full text) to U.S. Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, asking him to cancel a planned congressional hearing into radicalization of the American Muslim community. The letter says in part:

Muslim-Americans have consistently denounced terrorism and worked closely with law enforcement to prevent violence. Building and maintaining trust with the Muslim community is crucial to furthering this cooperation, and we fear your hearings will only sow greater distrust and division at a time when unity and moral courage are needed.

Earlier this month, in a letter to the ranking Democrat on the committee who also raised objections to the planned hearing, King said: "I will not allow political correctness to obscure a real and dangerous threat to the safety and security of the citizens of the United States."