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News Day – March 26, 2004
Muslim leaders rip King's 'extremist' comment
BY DIONNE SEARCEY
Leaders of Long Island's Muslim community and a congregationalist minister demanded yesterday (3/25/4) that U.S. Rep. Peter King renounce his remarks that 85 percent of the nation's mosques have "extremist leadership."
At a news conference in Mineola, the group offered a blistering critique of comments King made last month on the Sean Hannity radio show. King, a Seaford Republican, has since stood by his remarks, saying that while most Muslims are "loyal Americans," they are reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement when they hear of anti-American plots.
Faroque Khan, president of the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury, labeled King's remarks as WMDs, or Words of Mass Distortion. "As a respected senior congressman, his comments will resonate far and wide and will further widen the gap between Americans and the Muslim community worldwide," Khan said.
The Rev. Mark Lukens, president of the Long Island Chapter of Interfaith Alliance and pastor of the Bethany Congregational Church in East Rockaway, called King's remarks unfortunate, outrageous and "shockingly out of character" for a congressman who has supported religious minorities.
Yesterday, reached in his Washington office, King said "I'm not going to apologize. I stand by everything I've said." King said he had seen "a pattern of irresponsible comments coming from Muslim leaders" and from those with the Islamic Center in particular.
Islamic Center officials asked for a meeting with King in a Feb. 26 letter to help resolve grievances. King has said he would meet with them but "on my terms."
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-nyland263723421mar26,0,7383793.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
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