Muslims And Supporters Protest Congressional 'Radicalization' Hearings

By Simone Gorrindo
Religion News Service

NEW YORK (RNS) When Anam Chaudhry, 17, sang the national anthem to several hundred protesters in Times Square on Sunday afternoon, she wore a Muslim headscarf, and around her shoulders, another garment: the American flag.

"We love this country," said Imam Shamsi Ali, head of the Islamic Cultural Center here, after Chaudhry opened the interfaith rally. "We want to see America remain the most powerful and most beautiful country in the world."

Faith leaders and supporters braved the rain on Sunday to protest the upcoming congressional hearings on homegrown Islamic terrorism planned for this Thursday (March 10).

Protesters held signs and wore T-shirts bearing the rally's slogan, "Today, I am Muslim, too," while others said it was unjust to single out a religious group as a threat to national security.

As the rally wore on, another slogan took shape in the speeches and protests. It was a cry for inclusion, an expression of patriotism: "I am American, too."

"People say Islam is the enemy," said rally organizer Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who is also a co-founder of a controversial project to build a mosque near Ground Zero. "The real enemy is radicalization and extremism, and we, as Americans, are against it."

Some faith leaders have encouraged Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who, as chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has spearheaded the hearings, to widen its scope to include other threats to national security.

"That's absolute nonsense," King told The New York Times on Sunday. "The threat is coming from the Muslim community, the radicalization attempts are directed at the Muslim community. Why should I investigate other communities?"

Leaders at the rally expressed a desire to help fight against the threat of terrorism.

"The threats to our country are too big to disqualify any person who 'loves freedom' -- as (former President George W.) Bush would say -- from lending a hand," said the Rev. Chloe Breyer, an Episcopal priest.

Some protesters said they saw the hearings as a kind of hazing period for Muslims in America.

Protesters from an array of countries waved American flags, but not everyone at the rally shared in the patriotic fever.

"I don't like this country," said Muhammad Rashwan, 27, who moved to New York from Egypt two years ago. "The press is unfair to the Middle East, and people act like the words of the press come from God."

Four blocks south of the rally, 50 people gathered in a counter-protest, but disbanded early on as the rain fell.

Comments

[MohammedAbbasi]

10:36 AM on 03/09/2011

Its time for Americans to show how American they are by standing IN SOLIDARITY with American Muslims and opposing these public lynchings.... BOYCOTT THESE HEARINGS,

[JTNealinDC]

11:08 AM on 03/09/2011

Mr. King has lynched no one. He has suggested looking into a national security question - Is there or is there not any danger to widely reported efforts by foreign interests to radicalize the domestic Muslim community? What is your objection to that inquiry? Is it that you KNOW the answer already or that you don't want to know the answer?

[MohammedAbbasi]

04:52 PM on 03/09/2011

Really? I guess Republicans bombing civilians and trying to convert people to the Southern Baptist/rapturist cult around the world is not radicalising!

Peter King is a terrorist supporter and sympathizer who helped murder over 3,500 british civilians (all white i guess that should pull your heart strings!) http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=195792410441123

[American Air]

10:28 AM on 03/09/2011

We need a new oath that everyone ought to take... if it comes to my God vs my country, I am with my country.

The ones who do not take such an oath should be made to leave this country.

I could care less what your religion is.

[American Air]

10:29 AM on 03/09/2011

I would wager, many Evangelicals and Islamists would not take this oath and thats the people who should not live in this country.

[MikeDu]

01:27 PM on 03/08/2011

World events are going to make these hearings look like an anachronism. Discussing the 'threat' posed by Islam while on the other side of the world muslims are in the streets demanding democracy and human rights from their governments. Well, you can't be suprised that the righties are behind the curve. Huckabee's still fixated on the Mau Mau uprising in British East Africa in 1952!

[Matelyan]

01:23 PM on 03/08/2011

There is nothing more frightful than ignorance and hatred in action. On March 10th, we will get to see both.

[Slate 1947]

01:21 PM on 03/08/2011

Why does it seem that Christians who wear their religion on their sleeves, a religion that touts peace and love to hear them tell it, are the very same people that show the least amount of tolerance and compassion towards others? It's no wonder that congregations and religious schools have fewer people attending with each passing year. People are finally questioning religious authority, and that's a good thing.

[Rachelvis]

01:14 PM on 03/08/2011

I don't like this country," said Muhammad Rashwan, 27, who moved to New York from Egypt two years ago

SO GO BACK. Who is stopping you?

[chazmanr]

01:26 PM on 03/08/2011

Oh, don't get your polyester stretch pants in a bunch.

[INVet]

01:11 PM on 03/08/2011

Of the hate groups tracked by the government, how many are supposedly "Christian."

Our threat from withing comes not from Muslims but from the Christian Right.

[Wong23]

12:26 PM on 03/08/2011

When is King going to investigate the scourge of pedophilia among Catholic priests and the attempts by the church hierarchy to cover it up?

[Master of Puppets]

12:50 PM on 03/08/2011

Probably never considering he's a roman catholic himself.

[Wong23]

12:07 PM on 03/08/2011

King's hearings have nothing to do with the radicalization of American Mosques. He knows full well the FBI was diligent in their efforts after 911 and infiltrated and/or investigated ALL of them and have uncovered NO systemic radicalization.

King's hearings are about one thing...

Inflaming Islamophobic bigotry for political points

[Tommy Garrett]

12:02 PM on 03/08/2011

There are other ideologies with which to expunge the last vapors of reasonableness from a society's discourse, but Islam is undoubtedly one of the best we've got.

[poloman9a]

11:22 AM on 03/08/2011

I would just like to say that I thought this article was very well-written.

[Hillbilly49]

11:17 AM on 03/08/2011

 Peter King on MorningJoe was doing his best, this morning, to foment fear and hate.  Joe McCarthy couldn't have done a better job.

[thunk]

11:16 AM on 03/08/2011

"I don't like this country," said Muhammad Rashwan, 27, who moved to New York from Egypt two years ago. "The press is unfair to the Middle East, and people act like the words of the press come from God."

A rather telling statement, whether you like this country or not.

[Connie Stiletto]

03:37 PM on 03/10/2011

If you dont like this country where you have FREEDOM then why did you come here?
You say the we take the press as the word of God... Well you take the koran as the word of God.
I dont believe the way you believe and never will... I tell you and every islamic that the United States of America will never be the United States of islam.. you all better deal with that or leave. Or just leave

[rudiy]

10:57 AM on 03/08/2011

Last week the Reverand Louis Farakan made some of the most vile anti Semitic ridicuolus, hateful statements I have ever heard which were widely reported. I not see anything in Huffington, I heard nothing from the Muslim community.

It seems that many Muslims only see intolerance when it is directed toards them but do not see intolerance when directed by their religious leaders against others.

This does not mean I am for this myopic hearing but when Muslims do not stand up for intolerance by their own I find it difficult to be wholy supportive.

[chazmanr]

11:15 AM on 03/08/2011

Last time I checked, Rev Farakan is not an elected official acting on behalf of the United States. Let's make a deal, you can have your 1950's style McCarthy hearings if you agree to go back to the tax rates in place at that time.

[DrSnuggles]

12:08 PM on 03/08/2011

Suggesting the Nation of Islam is representative of the greater muslim community is like suggesting the Rastafarians represent Judaism.

[Rodig]

10:34 AM on 03/08/2011

Want to have a hearing? Okay, let's bring on the religious hearings.

Let's have a hearing on the Catholic Church's systematic abuse of children and the institutionalized cover-up that followed.

Let's have a hearing on Christian fundamentalists who have committed murders, attempted murders, hundreds of death threats, assaults, and kidnappings, against abortion providers.

Let's have a hearing on the Catholic's church refusal to provide homeless services in cities where they are not allowed to discriminate against gays by withholding partner benefits.

Let's have a hearing on Scientology's systematic brainwashing of its followers and their active attempts to tear apart families.

Let's have a hearing on the fundamentalist christians who actively restrict their children from life-saving medical procedures that has led to multiple deaths and irreversible injuries in the past 10 years.

Let's discuss. We can call it the Radical Religion hearings and get to the bottom of it all. Islam doesn't have a monopoly on religious tyranny by any means.

[Peter Combs]

11:06 AM on 03/08/2011

its pretty close to a monopoly.....how many deaths have been caused by Scientology? are you serious?

How many kids have been killed intentionally by their parents in religeous groups here?

Obortion Terrorists have killed or tried to kill a grand total of 22 people since Roe V Wade....nearly all have been arrested and tried in court.

According to Interpol..99% of all terrorist attacks in Europe have been doen by Islamic Radicals..

Comparing these groups to Islam is like comparing a waitress who cheats on her taxes over tips to Bernie Madoff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_terrorism

[Rodig]

11:37 AM on 03/08/2011

Here is a list of deaths associated with scientology:

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/threads/deaths-related-to-scientology.63925/

"How many kids have been killed intentiona­lly by their parents in religious groups here?"

Intentionally or unintentionally those kids are still DEAD because of their parents irrational religiosity.

I wasn't comparing those groups to Islam, directly or indirectly. The point is, in a country that knows full well the harm caused by our own religious zealots, there is a good enough reason to pursue all religious radicals in this country.

Either way, Far more people die every year in the UNITED STATES at the hands of CHRISTIANS than die at the hands of muslims.

[Rodig]

11:45 AM on 03/08/2011

Furthermore, how many deaths have been caused by soldiers marauding through Iraq with christian verses etched on their rifles because George Bush heard "voices from God"?

Let's be clear, all religious fundamentalists scare me. It scares me that there are these belief systems in the world that the more closely someone follows them (fundamentalists) the more they lead to a path of tyranny, homophobia, restricting the rights of women, and violence.

You may see it as Islam is worse than Christianity. I see it, as religious fundamentalism is bad, no matter the religion.