Muslim leaders criticize King hearings

The Muslim "radicalization" hearings called by Rep. Peter King are so flawed that they're doomed to fail, a coalition of Muslim leaders warned Wednesday.

The leaders, representing secular and faith groups in New York City and Long Island, complained that the most prominent Muslim-American organizations are being left out of the discussion.

They also contend supporters of King's conservative views will dominate the "politicized" panel to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee, which King chairs.

"The hearings as planned are damaging and will only further prejudice and intolerance toward Muslim-Americans," said Asim Rehman, vice president of the Muslim Bar Association of New York.

King's witnesses are skewed to the "far right" and will offer a "very distorted analysis," said P. Adem Carroll, founder of the Muslim Consultative Network, a Manhattan-based advocacy group.

Coalition members, including representatives from the Islamic Center of Long Island and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, met Wednesday with Newsday's editorial board.

King (R-Seaford) said he will call three of the four experts who will testify at the mid-March hearings, leaving the last selection to Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee. He has also invited Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), a convert to Islam, to testify.

"Even though I say the majority of Muslims are outstanding Americans," King said, "it's essential that we see the extent of . . . [their radicalization]."