September 27, 2007

The Islamic Information Center condemns Congressman Peter King's statement claiming that there are "too many mosques" in the country. Such a statement directly contradicts American values, and the ideals upon which this country was founded upon. Basic religious freedoms are the cornerstone of American culture, and for a Congressman to make such a statement is reprehensible. Each individual or group is allowed to establish their own centers of worship in this country, and it is not the place of any politician to limit religious expression amongst peaceful law abiding individuals.

In an interview with the political website, Politico, Congressman Peter King was reported as saying, "Unfortunately we have too many mosques in this country, there's too many people who are sympathetic to radical Islam. We should be looking at them more carefully, we should be finding out how we can infiltrate, we should be much more aggressive in law enforcement." Congressman King is currently Republican candidate Rudy Guliani's homeland security advisor. He also is the highest ranking Republican in the House Homeland Security Committee. In reaction to Congressman King's comment, Rudy Guiliani claims that he understands Congressman King's intentions.

The IIC would like express its disapproval of Congressman King's irresponsible remarks. Statements such as these are bigoted and employ the use of fear to push a political agenda. Islam is not a radical religion nor is it one that preaches terrorism. The IIC would also like to emphasize that the presence of mosques within the United States also signify the presence of an active civil society. Muslims are increasingly becoming an integral part of American political and social life. Targeting a particular community ignores the complexities of a larger issue and conveys a message of exclusion.

The Islamic Information Center, under the guidance of Imam Syed Naqvi, works to bring understanding among people of all faiths and background in an attempt to build bridges for the future to prevent hate crimes through education and tolerance. IIC also works to correct any misinformation about matters relating to the Holy Religion of Islam.