February 28, 2011

Prompted by Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) proposed hearings on the "radicalization" of the Muslim American community, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Arab American Institute are hosting a briefing, “Islamophobia: A Challenge to American Pluralism,” for congressional staffers on March 2.

The briefing will examine Islamophobia and its impact on foreign and domestic policy and policymakers.

The briefing will address how Islamophobia alienates and ostracizes the Muslim American community, as well as how it has become socially-permissible tool for politicians and media pundits.

While King has suggested that his hearings will bring about preventive solutions to combat radicalization and bigotry, these hearings will unjustly call into question the loyalty of the Muslim American community and will only promote division and suspicion.

• “Little of recent American Islamophobia (with a strong emphasis on the “phobia”) is sheer happenstance.” – Max Blumenthal, Award Winning Journalist

• “If King were truly concerned with understanding American Muslims, a sit-down dialogue with community leaders would be the place to start - not a provocative "show trial" from which no good will come.” – James Zogby, President, Arab American Institute

• “For those who suggest that Islam by definition is the breeding ground for contemporary terrorism, the notion that Muslims could become law-abiding American citizens or American patriots is a contradiction in terms.” – Leon Hadar, Cato Institute

What: Hill Briefing: “Islamophobia: A Challenge to American Pluralism”

When: March 2, 2011 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where: 2226 Rayburn HOB