For Immediate Release: March 8, 2011
Contact: Alanna Sobel, alanna@rabinowitz-dorf.com, (202) 265-3000

NATIONAL RELIGIOUS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTURE ASKS
REPRESENTATIVE PETER KING TO CANCEL ANTI-MUSLIM HEARINGS

Rep. Peter King (NY-3) has announced that he will hold a series of hearings on the “radicalization of the American Muslim community” and its alleged unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to stop terrorism.

In response to the hearings, Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), issued this statement:

“We believe there is a better way to make our nation safe than to inappropriately single out one faith community. Instead of emphasizing our differences, our safety as a nation would be increased if the government asked all the religious communities in America to work together for our nation’s security.

Rep. King’s hearings will increase anti-Muslim sentiment in America and isolate our Muslim citizens without improving American security. Prejudice toward Muslims was a significant contributing factor that led to U.S. acceptance of torture.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture calls on Rep. King to either cancel the hearings or to change their format to create a constructive dialogue about how people of all faiths can stop terrorism.”

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a growing membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, 300 religious groups have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.