Congressman says he's not "anti-Islam"

WASHINGTON (RNS) A freshman congressman said he is "neither anti-Muslim
nor anti-Islam" after religious leader criticized him for saying the
first Muslim in Congress represents the "antithesis" of American values.


Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., a prominent Tea Party freshman, on
Wednesday (Feb. 2) defended his remarks directed at Rep. Keith Ellison,
D-Minn., who in 2006 became the first Muslim member of Congress.


West said he wasn't criticizing Ellison's Muslim faith, but rather
his support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and its history
of "supporting violent anti-American and anti-Israel terrorist
organizations."


"I am neither anti-Muslim nor anti-Islam," West said in a letter to
his critics. "I respect every religion, and the constitutionally
protected right to practice that faith in a peaceful manner."


In a recent interview with "Shalom Show" host Richard Peritz, West
said Ellison represents "the antithesis of the principles upon which
this country was established. You have to just be able to challenge each
and every one of their assertions."


Leaders from the Interfaith Alliance, The Rabbinical Assembly, the
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and the Baptist Joint
Committee for Religious Liberty had blasted West over those comments.


"Although your laudable decision to offer yourself for public
service in no way disqualifies you from discussing your own faith, we
urge you not to use the prestige of your position ... to proselytize for
one religion or demonize another," the leaders said.


Ellison's office was unavailable for comment, but CAIR spokesman
Ibrahim Hooper said he was not surprised by the attacks on his
organization.


"When you are in office and have a responsibility to your voters,
which include Muslims, the inflammatory rhetoric that appealed to your
base in the past becomes dangerous," Hooper said.


West, a decorated Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, said he
has worked with Muslims in the Middle East and at home, and "have known
these people to be peaceful, patriotic Americans."


Although the religious leaders asked West to apologize to Ellison
and West's own Muslim constituents, West's response stopped short of an
apology.


"It appears to me that you have the very same goals as I do," West
wrote back, "To keep our freedom intact and ensure that the foundations
upon which this country was founded are never jeopardized."