Critics disparaged the hearings as over broad and feared they would tar Muslims as disloyal A US congressman has warned al-Qaeda is actively recruiting US Muslims for violent attacks within the country.
Representative Peter King, a Republican, spoke at a House homeland security committee hearing into the “radicalisation” of US Muslims.
He said “homegrown radicalisation” was “part of al-Qaeda’s strategy to continue attacking the US”.
Critics say the hearing will feed anti-Islamic sentiment and have criticised Mr King for singling Muslims out.
A senior Democratic congressman warned the committee not to “blot the good name” of American Muslims.
Mr King, a New York Democrat, has accused US mosques of being a breeding ground for radical attitudes.
In his opening statement on Thursday, Mr King said that US anti-terror efforts since the 11 September 2001 attacks had prevented al-Qaeda from launching major strikes on the US from outside the country, but said the Islamist group had turned to actively recruiting Americans for attacks.
“Al-Qaeda is actively targeting the American Muslim community for recruitment. Today’s hearing will address this dangerous trend,” he said, adding that the inquiry did not warrant the “rage and hysteria” it has prompted.
Bennie Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said the US should also investigate anti-government hate groups as well.
He believes the hearings could be used to inspire terrorist propaganda.
Congressman John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who represents a large Muslim community, warned Mr King and the committee not to “blot the good name or the loyalty or raise questions about the decency about Arabs or Muslims or other Americans en mass”.
“There will be plenty of rascals that we can point at and say these are the real danger to the nation that we love and that we serve,” he said.”
Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress, said Mr King’s hearing contravened “the best of American values” and threatened US security.
He called for “increased understanding and engagement with the Muslim community”.
Also on Thursday, two men who say their sons were turned to violent, radical Islam testified.
The White House has said US domestic security efforts should look at all extremists, not just focus on Muslims.
“We don’t want to stigmatize, we don’t want to alienate entire communities,” US Attorney General Eric Holder said.
Mr King has said some leaders of American Muslim communities have done too little to co-operate with law enforcement – an assertion Mr Holder has rejected.
Mr King ordered extra security for the event, which has caused controversy in the US.
On Thursday Melvin Bledsoe, whose son Carlos shot US soldiers at a military recruiting centre in Little Rock, Arkansas testified about what he described as his son’s manipulation and radicalisation by Muslim leaders.
“Carlos was captured by people best described as hunters. He was manipulated and lied to,” Mr Bledsoe said. “I have other family members who are Muslims, and they are modern, peaceful, law-abiding people.”
Also testifying was Minnesota man whose young Somali-American son was recruited to join the al-Shabab militant group, which the US considers a terrorist organisation, and who was killed in Somali.
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