Islamophobia on the rise in US, say lawmakers

WASHINGTON, March 30: Some US lawmakers warn against rising Islamophobia in America while others complain that there were too many mosques in the United States. The second congressional hearing on US Muslims saw the lawmakers divided between those who want Muslims to prove their loyalty and those who feel that after 9/11 this religious community is unnecessarily targeted. Senator Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary subcommittee, said he convened the hearing because of rising Islamophobia, manifested by Quran burnings, hate speech and restrictions on mosque construction. But Congressman Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, who had called an earlier hearing to force Muslims to prove their loyalty to America, traded sharp jabs over the status of Muslims in the US. Mr King, a Republican, flatly denied that American Muslims face violations of their civil rights and said the hearing Mr Durbin chaired "just perpetuates the myth that somehow Muslims are the victims of Sept 11". Senator Durbin, a Democrat, rejected those contentions and criticised Mr King`s controversial statement that "there are too many mosques in this country". "Such inflammatory speech from prominent public figures creates a fertile climate for discrimination," Senator Durbin said. He also questioned the premise of Mr King`s hearing that American Muslims do not cooperate with law-enforcement probes into violent members of their community. "We should all agree that it is wrong to blame an entire community for the wrongdoing of a few," said Mr Durbin. "Guilt by association is not the American way." Farhana Khera, executive director of the non-profit Muslim Advocates, noted "rising anti-Muslim bigotry." She recalled the murder of a taxi-driver for being Muslim and the beating of a Muslim child by classmates. "Parents worry, `Will my child be next?`" said Ms Khera. "And they worry about the future: Will America be hospitable to other faiths? Will its better angels prevail?" "One case is too many," said Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican. But he sided with Mr King on holding US Muslims responsible for stopping terrorist radicalisation of their young men. "I will stand with you to practise your faith and be an integral part of this country," he said. "But you`re going to have to help your country." Senator Durbin also voiced doubts on the claim that the Islamic law system was a threat to American jurisprudence, as some conservatives warn. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, said Catholic bishops "stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters in defence of their dignity and rights." "To the American Muslim community, I will stand with you as you practise your religion and you exercise your rights under the Constitution," said Rev. Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance. "But I am asking you to get in this fight as a community, and let it be known to your young people that there are lines you will not cross." Like most Democrats, Senate Republicans also agreed that Muslims` rights should be protected but insisted that "there are two sides to this story." "Efforts to recruit and radicalise young Muslims must be dealt with," said Senator Graham. Senator Jon Kyle, a Republican, warned: "The only way to stop terrorists is to recognise where they are coming from. Political correctness cannot stand in the way of identifying those who would do us harm." Muslims who attended the hearing said it was a welcome change from the earlier House session, which targeted them. Senator Kyl questioned Ms Khera on a statement on the Web site of her group, which counsels American Muslims not to speak to law enforcement officials without a lawyer present. "Those who engage in criminal acts must be stopped and brought to justice, and every American has a civic duty to report criminal activity to law enforcement," Ms Khera responded. At the same time, she said, "every American has the right to seek legal advice".