Hearings on U.S. Muslims

February 15, 2011

To the Editor:

Re “Muslims to Be Hearings’ Main Focus” (news article, Feb. 8):

Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York, first announced Homeland Security Committee hearings about the Muslim American community because of alleged statements that community leaders are uncooperative with law enforcement. Oddly, Mr. King now refuses to take testimony from the very law enforcement officials who expressed such concerns about cooperation.

Representative King claims that these sources are unwilling to speak publicly. This lack of attribution — combined with the fact that law enforcement officials have spoken publicly about their positive relationships with Muslim American communities — casts serious doubts on Mr. King’s claimed bases for the hearings.

Nevertheless, the real problem with these hearings is that they will promote division and prejudice. Capitalizing on recent waves of anti-Muslim sentiment, the hearings will perpetuate the myth that Muslims are a monolith, disregarding the important contributions that Muslim Americans make every day.

At a time when politicians have called for unity, we deserve hearings that focus on real security threats, not hearings that promote suspicion of an entire community of faith.

Asim Rehman
Vice President
Muslim Bar Association of New York
Brooklyn, Feb. 9, 2011