Islamophobia 101-Episode 21: “Too many mosques in the United States.”

Please watch the following (unedited) interview of New York Congressman King.

In the above interview, Rep. King said: “Unfortunately, we have too many mosques in this country. There are 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. . .I think there’s been a lack of full cooperation from too many people in the Muslim community. And it’s a real threat here in this country.”

1. Congressman King has a long history of rhetorical hostility to the American Muslim community and to the protection of civil liberties. King, who is on Giuliani’s Homeland Security Advisory Board, has in the past claimed that the vast majority of mosques in his state and nationwide are being run by “radicals” and called for racial profiling of Muslims in airports. He said: “I think it is time to end political correctness. To me, if a person is of Middle Eastern descent it is legitimate for the screener to ask more questions.”
2. Speaking on Sean Hannity’s nationally-syndicated radio program on February 9th, 2004, the Congressman claimed that a vast majority of American Muslim community leaders are “an enemy living amongst us”. Congressman King went on to state that that “no (American) Muslims are cooperating” with law enforcement officials to combat terrorism. He further added: “I would say, you could say that 80-85 percent of mosques in this country are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists.”. He made these claims despite the fact that American Muslims have consistently condemned terrorism and work to protect national security. In a 2003 interview with The Minaret magazine, FBI Director Robert Mueller said: “I would like to thank the Muslim Americans for their support on the war against terrorism and working with the FBI around the country as well as state and local law enforcement. . .”
3. “I know of any number of mosques in New York…where there are radicals in there.” [Link]
4. Muslims are “an enemy living amongst us.” [Link]
5. Muslims’ “ideology of extremism has been spread to the youth and the new generation.” [Link]
6. “They won’t turn in their own. They won’t tell what’s going on in the mosques. They won’t come forward and cooperate with the police.” [Link]

Ironically, King has taken political donations from members of a New York mosque he claims is a hotbed of radicalism. An article in Newsday stated: “Rep. Peter King is attempting to link his political opponent to men he calls ‘radical’ Muslim leaders on Long Island, but federal records show the congressman accepted thousands of dollars last year in campaign contributions from some of the same donors.

The Democratic National Committee has already condemned Congressman King’s bigoted language against Muslims.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.) – TOP

1. CONTACT Republican leaders to ask that they repudiate remarks by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) in which he said “we have too many mosques in this country.”

CONTACT RNC Chairman Mike Duncan.

Office of the Chairman
Mike Duncan, RNC Chairman
Phone: 202-863-8700
Fax: 202-863-8820
E-Mail: Chairman@gop.com, Info@gop.com, GOP@mail.house.gov

2. CONTACT Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and urge him to drop King and commentator Daniel Pipes as campaign advisors because of their extremist and Islamophobic views and comments.

Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee
295 Greenwich St, #371
New York, NY 10007
212-835-9449
E-Mail: webteam@joinrudy2008.com

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UPDATE 1: On Wednesday, the congressman said: “The quote was taken entirely out of context by Politico. My position in this interview, as it has been for many years, is that too many mosques in this country do not cooperate with law enforcement. Unfortunately, Politico was incapable of making this distinction.”

UPDATE 2: After Congressman King said his comment was taken out of context, Politico posted a fuller video so readers can decide.

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Please click here to read an official letter from the Interfaith Alliance to Congressman King about his anti-Muslim statements.

Please visit the King Watch blog to keep tab of King’s statements and actions.

Please read how Steve Emerson defends Congressman King.